One of the first documented lifesaving rescues on the Gold Coast tells the story of a tourist who, in 1911, would have drowned if not for a heroic rescue by Churakai, an Indigenous lifesaver.

Churakai was a Coodjingburra man from the north coast of News South Wales.

In 2016 Joel Slabb and Mary Slabb of Fingal Head named their not-for-profit community surfing organisation Juraki Surf and Culture to revive the history and celebrate this forgotten hero of surf lifesaving history.

It is spelt phonetically as Juraki, to assist people with the correct pronunciation.

"Churakai is buried in our local cemetery with his father Caomoi, said to be one of the last kings of the Tweed Aboriginal people," Mr Slabb said.

Caomoi reportedly asked his son to watch over the swimmers when surf bathing became popular on the Gold Coast and drownings became common.

"He was a water man and a lifeguard, rescuing shipwrecked people out of the Tweed River and the surrounding beaches," Mr Slabb said.

The report of the rescue by Churakai is held in the archive of the Greenmount Beach Surf Club, Queensland's first surf club established in 1911.

Churakai received a Letter of Commendation in 1911 from the Royal Humane Society of Australasia whose patron was King George V.

"For that time, which wasn't a very favourable time for Aboriginal people, that was an outstanding effort," Mr Slabb said.

"We look at him as a hero."

Joel Slabb has written and illustrated a book based on the legend of Churakai, spelt phonetically as Juraki. ( Illustration by Joel Slabb )

Churakai remembered in children's book

No photos or Churakai have been discovered, but Mr Slabb has recently completed a children's book based on the story.

Mr Slabb confided that writing a book for him was a significant achievement as he did not learn to read until he was 20.

"I had hearing problems like a lot of Aboriginal kids did when I was younger," Mr Slabb said.

"I just slipped into the back of the class.

"One thing I want to pass on is — just read — even if it is the only thing you learn, learn how to read."

When he was nine years old, Joel Slabb's passion for surfing began when his family bought a second-hand surfboard for $20. ( Supplied: Slabb family archive )

Surfing a way of life for the Slabb family

Mr Slabb is also of the Coojingburra clan of the Bundjalung tribe.

He spent his early childhood on the beach at Fingal fishing and worming with his elders.

His passion for surfing started at nine years old when a neighbour sold the family a second-hand surfboard for $20.

"There's five of us, four brothers and one sister, and we shared that board for a few years, until dad finally decided to buy us all our own boards," Mr Slabb said.

"And it just grew from there."

At five years old, Jalaan Slabb [right], said she was going to be Australia's first female Aboriginal pro surfer. At 12, she is well on her way to achieving her goals, and will compete against her sister Namaala [left] in the Women's Open at the Juraki Surf International. ( ABC North Coast: Catherine Marciniak )

Mr Slabb's father started one of the first Indigenous surfing competitions in Australia at Fingal in 1996.

It ran until 1999 when their sponsor Billabong dropped out.

Joel and Mary Slabb revived the event in 2016 but the Juraki Surf Invitational is not just about the competition.

"People do come here to win but also they come here just to gather together," Mr Slabb said.

"That's why we started it. Some of the issues that Indigenous people face in communities, mental illness is rising and a lot of health problems.

"Sometimes life gets tough, and if you can just grab a board and go to the beach, that's all I want for my kids and any other kids that we train.

"To really bring people together, that's our passion."

The 2018 Air Asia Juraki Surf Invitational at Fingal Head starts Friday, August 10, with three days of competitive and cultural events. The finals are on Sunday, August 12.