The family of Bronson Rhodes say they will erect a more permanent memorial at Flynns Beach to remember their son, brother and friend.
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A consistent search effort has so far failed to find his body.
While the family is still coming to terms with the tragedy, they have acknowledged the considerable support mounted during and after the search effort.
"The level of support from everyone has been wonderful," his mother Rachel said.
"All the emergency services from the lifeguard services, marine rescue, the surf clubs, SES, police, his junior football club, his high school - everyone has been just wonderful.
"People have been really supportive and have offered us plenty of help and assistance. Beaches Apartment provided us accommodation across the road so we didn't haven to drive home to Kendall, while the Sandbox (the Flynns Beach cafe) closed for most of the search time.
"And there were people like the Holland family - Dale and Leonie - who searched every night for a week and Rod Hall who flew his own plane and brought up a helicopter to search despite the official effort being called off.
"He did that, simply because, as a parent, he said he'd want people to do that for him."
Rachel also thanked Matthew, a Belgian surfer who rescued Callum, one of Bronson's friends on the day, and Carolyn Turnham and Vicki Polverino who offered considered assistance.
That's why his mates are really upset, because Bronson cared so much about everyone else.
- Rachel Rhodes
With the tragedy still very raw for the family - 'we didn't have a Christmas' - Rachel said she will remember her son as a caring young man.
She said the outpouring of support for the family was a testament to how well they thought of Bronson.
"That's why his mates are really upset, because Bronson cared so much about everyone else," she said.
"He was very close to his girlfriend, Cheryl, too. And he idolised his brother Billy, who is four years older."
Along with a strong interest in rugby league, Bronson had also shown enough at school to be noticed by his teachers.
"He was a smart kid. Even his maths teacher couldn't believe how he didn't pick up a pen all year but topped the maths class," Rachel said. "His NAPLAN results were off the charts. He was probably very smart but did not want everyone to know that. He had just chosen to do engineering as an elective next year at school."
The family is now waiting on the coroner to determe if a report or an inquest will be held into Bronson's death.
They also hope that a coroner's report may highlight some areas that could prevent this tragedy from being repeated. "We are not blaming anyone, but we don't want this to happen to another family," she said.
