The NSW Awards of Excellence is a night to celebrate the incredible people in our organisation and the impact they have on their clubs, its members and their local communities. In 2025, the four Branches from the Hunter to Sydney share the spotlight with members and initiatives worth celebrating.
Ahead of the AOE on 16 August, we are shining a light on some of these inspirational people who are being recognised for their contribution to the community through Surf Life Saving.
Almost half of the 129 clubs are situated between Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest SLSC at the northernmost border of the Hunter Branch and Burning Palms SLSC in Sydney’s south – 64 in all – and over time, members from these areas have amassed over 300 category wins, a true testament to the strength of the volunteers.
Since 1998 at the NSW Awards of Excellence, individuals, teams and initiatives have been honoured with 303 category wins to be precise, and while history indicates strength across the board for the four Branches, standout categories include a combined 52 Athlete and Youth Athlete of the Year winners.
Of the four Branches, Central Coast has been the most successful to date with 90 total award winners. Sydney Branch and Sydney Northern Beaches Branch are even, according to records, at 84 winners, while the Hunter has had 45 state winners.
Previously the Central Coast, and more specifically one particular athlete from Terrigal SLSC, has dominated the Masters Athlete of the Year, with 13 wins over time. Clubmate, Hayden Smith will look to become the first man not named Paul Lemmon to win the award for the region.
The Branch has also been strong in both the Official of the Year category and the Volunteer of the Year awards – perhaps a great sign for The Lakes SLSC which has representatives in both categories. Shann Mitchell is up for best Official and Lauren Goldie hopes to be the region’s third Volunteer of the Year this decade.
In the blue-chip Surf Lifesaver of the Year category, Sydney Branch has had the most previous success, with eight winners. Bondi SBLSC’s Gareth Robinson will represent the Branch this year, while Bondi also has Robyn Carr contesting the Official of the Year category and Dori Miller as a potential Masters Athlete of the Year.
Sydney has always had strong coaches, with Tom Rampoldi from North Cronulla up for the same award he won in 2022, and Tamarama SLSC’s Amelia Curtis could become Sydney’s first Administrator of the Year since Elouera SLSC’s Stephen Frawley in 2005.
Training, Assessing and Facilitating are key strengths of the Sydney Northern Beaches Branch – 17 times the state winner in one of those three disciplines has come from there. Key names to keep an eye on this year include Matthew Murphy from Narrabeen SLSC, Kyra Jenkins from North Steyne SLSC and Herve Vichemont from Dee Why SLSC.
The Branch could also see its first Services Team of the Year and Support Operations Member of the Year winners, with Queenscliff SLSC’s Magnificent Old Blokes – the boys who you’ll recognise from most Branch and state surf sports carnivals – and Dee Why’s Cameron Read contesting those categories.
The Hunter had winners in the Athlete of the Year, Youth Athlete of the Year and Innovation Award in 2024, with Caves Beach SLSC’s Victoria Coppen looking to follow in the footsteps of Iron Series Athlete Dan Collins in the former of those categories.
Swansea Belmont SLSC athlete Katy Rees is up for the Youth Athlete of the Year, while Greg Williams of Birubi Point SLSC could become the region’s first NSW Patrol Captain of the Year.
Thursday 14 August 2025