A busy summer for Sydney Surf Sports Director Wayne Druery has ended in the best possible fashion after the Cronulla member was named Volunteer of the Year at the 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence last weekend.

Throughout the season Wayne averaged around 20 hours per week of volunteering particularly around the area of Surf Sports.



“I am extremely humbled by this honour. You don’t do these types of things for the award and recognition you do it to help people and I think that is so apparent with the standard of surf lifesavers that are present here in this room,” said Wayne Druery.



At club level he served as Senior Vice President was member of the Management Committee and the Convener of the Constitution Committee.



In March he was carnival referee at the NSW Surf Life Saving Age Championships held at Blacksmiths Beach, Swansea. It was a testament to his skills and leadership qualities that the event which remains one of the largest surf carnivals of its type in the country ran smoothly.



He was also Deputy Carnival Referee at the Open and Interbranch Championships and served as a NSW Selector.



Among his many Australian hats he performed the duties of Area Referee at the Youth Championships, a Sectional Referee at the Open Championships, was a member of the Surf Sports Technical Committee, and refereed during the Summer of Surf Series and at the Nutri-Grain Ironperson Final Series.



Like many Australians his journey in Surf Life Saving began as a Nipper parent and never one to sit still is already working on his plans for next summer.



“I originally joined because my son wanted to do Nippers and that’s where my journey started. I began helping out with water safety and if you had told me then I would be receiving an award such as this over 15 years later I would have thought you would be joking.



“It’s a real big year coming up officiating and a few new surf sports initiatives I hope to continue working on so definitely looking forward to the new season.



The 2017 SLSNSW Awards of Excellence are proudly presented by Stramit Building Products. Over 300 of Surf Life Saving’s most outstanding lifesavers, athletes, educators, coaches, and administrators from around the state gathered at Sydney’s iconic The Hilton Hotel to celebrate the season that was.



 



Wednesday 9 August 2017