Sustainable Sport NEWS

The recently held Surf Life Saving NSW Awards of Excellence saw an ‘unprecedented’ number of female lifesavers securing awards – which SLSNSW considers reflects the positive steps their organisation has taken towards equal opportunity.

Of the 24 awards available across five categories on the night, 13 were won specifically by female volunteers and a further five team or group-specific awards included female members.

Surf Life Saving NSW President, George Shales advised “as a not-for-profit organisation we are very proud of our entire membership, but particularly the way our female volunteers continue to stand up and make a difference on our beaches.

“There is no doubt in my mind that we are leading the way in terms of gender equality benchmarks for volunteer emergency service organisations and that’s something we will continue to focus on and build upon.”

Of the five ‘Major Awards’, each of the three individual awards – being the President’s Medal, Volunteer of the Year, and the blue-chip Surf Lifesaver of the Year – went to deserving female nominees, while the Surf Sports category was dominated by female athletes. An outstanding female member was also recognised with the award for the Support Operations Member of the Year, a highly contested category.

Surf Lifesaver of the Year winner, Shannon Fox from Wollongong City SLSC, said she was very proud to be a part of the surf lifesaving movement.

“I can’t believe it,” she said after her win.

“Every second category was girls making a difference and having an impact tonight and inspiring everyone to stand up. That’s been the best part of tonight.”

It was a night of great success for Illawarra Branch, with Fox’s award coming after her own club, Wollongong City had earlier taken out the Innovation of the Year category for its ‘Patrol Meights’ program.

Meanwhile, Bulli SLSC claimed three awards across the evening, including the Rescue of the Year where more than 60 members from the club, supported by Sandon Point SLSC, Woonona SLSC and Thirroul SLSC, responded to a mass rescue involving an overturned boat at Waniora Point in October.

Water sports athlete Hannah Minogue secured two awards, first being recognised as the Masters Athlete of the Year – largely thanks to her incredible showing at the Australian Championships in April – before being announced just moments later as the Athlete of the Year as well.

The Surf Sports category also highlighted the strength of North Cronulla SLSC, with the Coach of the Year (Tom Rampoldi), Youth Athlete of the Year (Lucy Flanagan) and Surf Sports Team of the Year (Open Beach Relay Team) all coming from the Sydney club.

Meanwhile, Sydney Northern Beaches Branch flexed its Educational muscles, taking out three of the four available awards in the category. Warriewood SLSC saw Angela Shanahan and John Dulieu take out the Trainer and Assessor of the Year, respectively, while North Narrabeen SLSC’s Education Team was recognised as the Community Education Program of the Year winners.

Among the other major award winners were Julie Redfern, bringing the Volunteer of the Year award home with her to the Central Coast and her club, Terrigal, and Bronte SLSC was rewarded for its focus on support, succession planning, mentoring and skill development with the Club of the Year accolade.

Mid North Coast was recognised as Branch of the Year on the back of its all-round strength in lifesaving, governance, education and junior activities, and the President’s Medal was awarded to long-time North Cronulla SLSC member, Donna Hargreaves.

Surf Life Saving NSW President Shales congratulated all winners on the night and said he was proud of the wide representation across the Branches.

all winners
major awards

• Presidents Medal – Donna Hargreaves, North Cronulla SLSC
• Branch of the Year – Mid North Coast Branch
• Club of the Year – Bronte SLSC
• Volunteer of the Year – Julie Redfern, Terrigal SLSC
• Surf Lifesaver of the Year – Shannon Fox, Wollongong City SLSC

education awards

• Trainer of the Year – Angela Shanahan, Warriewood SLSC
• Facilitator of the Year – Kim Rayner, Tacking Point SLSC
• Assessor of the Year – John Dulieu, Warriewood SLSC
• Community Education Program of the Year – North Narrabeen SLSC Education Team

membership awards

• Administrator of the Year – Jackie Bower, Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest SLSC
• Youth Volunteer of the Year – Georgia Gaddes, South West Rocks SLSC
• Services Team of the Year – Surf Rescue 30
• Innovation of the Year – Patrol Meights, Wollongong City SLSC

surf sports awards

• Official of the Year – Mick Lang, Tacking Point SLSC
• Coach of the Year – Tom Rampoldi, North Cronulla SLSC
• Surf Sports Team of the Year – Open Female Beach Relay Team, North Cronulla SLSC
• Youth Athlete of the Year – Lucy Flanagan, North Cronulla SLSC
• Masters Athlete of the Year – Hannah Minogue, Bulli SLSC
• Athlete of the Year – Hannah Minogue, Bulli SLSC

lifesaving awards

• Lifeguard of the Year – Reece Dobbin, Clarence
• Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year – Sven Loemker, Cudgen Headland SLSC
• Patrol Captain of the Year – Kerry Morris, Dee Why SLSC
• Support Operations Member of the Year – Nixy Krite, Bondi SBLSC
• Rescue of the Year – Bulli SLSC, Illawarra Branch

Image: Surf Lifesaver of the Year  Shannon Fox (top right), Wollongong City SLSC. Courtesy Surf Life Saving NSW

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