rescue craft that could be deployed quickly under varying surf conditions and was adaptable to different Australian beaches. Warren proceeded to bring the English 'Dunlop' Inflatable Boat to Australia which was successfully adopted by his local club when the IRB performed a rescue of eight people in November 1969. By 1972 the French 'Zodiac’inflatable was also imported into Australia: with manager Ken Brown approaching Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) to test the French brand. The first Zodiac IRB was developed in 1972 by Ken Brown of Zodiac Inflatable Boats Australia in conjunction with Harry Brown OAM of North Cronulla SLSC and SLSA. The Zodiac IRB was recognised as the superior performing IRB for SLSA across the country. Ken Brown soon improved the Zodiac IRB modifying the removable floor and transom, introducing new specifications accepted by SLSA. Originating at North Cronulla SLSC, the Zodiac IRB participated in several surf rescue competitions, including Soldiers Beach SLSC in the early 1970s. The new Zodiac IRB powered by a 25 hp Johnson motor (with propguard): demonstrated a live rescue in a much quicker time than previously experienced. At the same event, a surf club crew member was injured during the collision of two traditional 'wooden' surf boats, highlighting yet another benefit of the 'rubber duck' for safety of surf rescue crews. The IRB measured 3.8m in length, setting the precedent for the familiar IRB now recognised today. By the early 1980s the Zodiac IRB was rolled out across Surf Life Saving Clubs in Australia and Ken Brown Marine had developed the rigid hull for the SLSA IRB. Brown and his team received an Australian Design Award in 1987 for the rigid hull. Since the introduction of the IRB more than 200,000 lives across the nation have been saved. In New Zealand by 1978 the Mk I Arancia IRB was tested at Piha. During that test the first ever Arancia IRB rescue of a swimmer washed up on rocks was performed. The IRB is world renowned as a superior surf rescue craft. Patrolling IRBs are of great value when patrolling a beach especially ocean surf beaches where either the surf is too powerful or the beach too large to perform rescues effectively on a board. Prior to the start of a patrol, it is the driver's responsibility to ensure the craft is correctly set up and ready for patrolling duties. Typically this will involve inflating