While most people were at home opening presents and tucking into a Christmas Day feast, representatives from Bulli Surf Life Saving Club put up the flags and patrolled the beach.
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Club president Keith Caldwell wasn't surprised to see a sea of lifesavers on the sand, even on December 25, noting the club was known for its willing volunteers.
Loyal members have kept the club running for more than 100 years, manning thousands of patrols and notching up dozens of awards.
This season, almost 90 people will patrol Bulli Beach every weekend, keeping a watchful eye over beachgoers and the 250 nippers also set to take to the surf.
Mr Caldwell said retaining members was one of the club's biggest challenges.
"Retention is always difficult but it's really hard in that 13 to 17 age group," he said.
"There are so many other sports for kids to do; they become involved in representative teams for things like soccer and rugby league and they just can't keep up with everything.
"We've tried really hard with our rookie program so we have that connection between nippers and the adult patrols; we just took 22 teenagers to Luna Park for the day, it's things like that that help keep them engaged."
Offering people the chance to participate in surf sports has also been a key attraction - and has earned the club several Illawarra, state, national and world titles.
Four members have represented Australia at the Olympic Games, including Rhett Ayliffe and Tim McLaren, who were both involved in rowing.
Another 17 members have competed at international level throughout the club's 101-year history, with more set to head overseas in 2015.
The open men's gold surfboat crew was selected on December 21 to represent Australia in a three-race Test match against New Zealand in February.
Mr Caldwell said the club was proud of its track record and its commitment to quality coaching.
"We are a pretty successful club but I think it's because we have structures in place to properly train and educate kids who are interested in competing," he said.
"They go into a coaching program and they're coached by people who are experienced and have represented the club at many different levels, I think that's pretty rare."
Next year, the club is hoping to secure funding from Wollongong City Council to carry out work on the clubhouse, building a two-storey extension to make more room for the lifesavers.
