In recognition of her efforts she was named Volunteer of the Year at the national organisation's Awards of Excellence.
"It was a huge honour, a special treat to be feted with people who have been in surf life-saving for 50 or 70 years," Ms Casey, also Otago's surf life-saving volunteer of the year, said.
Her involvement began quite simply, the Otago Boys' High School science teacher said.
"We live at the beach. My children enjoy the surf."
Along with her children, Charlotte and Arthur Ibbotson, Ms Casey lives at Warrington and belongs to the local surf club.
When they first joined, it was a very small club and it was a case of "build it up, or pack it up", she said.
A shortage of lifeguards, prompted Ms Casey to get her lifeguard award and then she realised the club needed funding and resources for a building addition, and new equipment.
With Ms Casey's help, the club managed to boost its members by about 40 in the past two seasons, and had 61 lifeguards at the start of last summer.
She has put in 87 hours of voluntary patrol, managed representative teams, convened committees, selected teams and taken on leadership roles at club and regional level including as a member of Surf Life Saving Otago's board.
"We quickly realised we had to take a big picture view and the six clubs in Otago now work to assist each other."
Her enthusiasm for surf life-saving was in part because it was "one big family" that offered something for everyone, no matter their age, she said.
That was highlighted by her own family. Her children are both regional lifeguards with Charlotte (17), who races inflatable rescue boats (IRBs) for St Kilda, named Otago surf lifeguard of the year and son, Arthur (15), who races IRBs for St Clair, the Warrington club captain.
"It's the ultimate family activity."
At the award ceremony in Auckland at the weekend, distinguished service awards were also presented to John Bryant, of the St Clair club, and Douglas Henderson, of Kaka Pt, who received a service award as well.
Service awards were also presented to Richard Murray and Antony Mason, of St Clair.
