Kevin Weldon
Kevin Weldon, AO (1933-2023) was the founder of Little Ripper Lifesaver and International Lifesaving from Australia.
Little Ripper Lifesaver
Little Ripper Lifesaver operates Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that deliver a range of Search and Rescue capabilities in the ocean off of Australia and elsewhere.
In the immediate aftermath of the devastating typhoon Katrina that destroyed most of New Orleans in 2005, Weldon observed an unmanned drone helicopter flying along flooded streets searching for survivors. This was the first deployment of drones in a disaster and they were instrumental in helping to find some 5000 people, stranded and alive in their flooded homes. The unmanned drones sent pictures back to the Central Control which were then able to dispatch rescue teams to those in trouble. He set about working on the possibility of developing a search and rescue service in Australia using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). After a decade of efforts, he was finally able to assemble the right people and resources to make it happen. The major turning point was the financial support of Westpac Banking Corporation for an initial six months’ trial along the NSW coast, initially utilising military grade, single rotor unmanned helicopters.
Video
To The Saviors
He is included as one of the saviors in the video tribute, To The Saviors. The Global Visionary of Water Safety was a transformative leader in the international lifesaving community and a titan of Australian publishing. A dedicated life member of the Pacific Palms Surf Life Saving Club, Weldon combined his professional acumen with a passion for the ocean to elevate aquatic safety from a local effort to a coordinated global movement. Weldon’s crowning achievements were his roles as the Founding President of World Life Saving (WLS) in 1970 and later the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) in 1993. He was the primary architect behind the historic merger of the WLS and the Fédération Internationale de Sauvetage Aquatique (FIS). By uniting these two rival bodies, he created a single global authority for drowning prevention, water safety, and lifesaving sport. Beyond his diplomatic success, Weldon was a pioneer in aquatic media and technology. He utilized his publishing house to produce seminal works on water safety, including the first comprehensive manuals used by Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA). He was a key advocate for the introduction of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter service and later the use of drone technology, revolutionizing coastal search and rescue. As President of both WLS and ILS Whelpon oversaw a period of cooperation and massive modernization of global lifesaving. For his distinguished service to the community, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). Weldon’s legacy is a safer world where lifesaving is recognized as both a vital humanitarian service and a world-class sport.
