News

From the time he first pulled on his Ocean Beach Nipper cap Matthew Calbert was hooked on the ocean, and now the talented teenager has one more feather to add to his considerable resume after he was crowned the Young Lifesaver of the Year.

For over 15 years, Captain Bob Powell has led Umina’s Patrol One, and this year the team was celebrated for its work both on and off the beach with the first ever Patrol of the Year Award at the 2018 NSW Awards of Excellence in Sydney last weekend.

As Patrol Captain Tracey Hare-Boyd strives to ensure that everyone on patrol feels valued and is utilised to the best of their ability, and it’s an attitude that has earned her the inaugural award for the state’s top Patrol Captain.

Canberra children growing up hundreds of kilometres away from the coastline are able to participate in the popular Nippers program thanks to one club’s determination and desire to make beach education a priority.

It’s been a busy season for South Curl Curl’s Mike Le Geyt who has facilitated a number of branch courses throughout 2017/18, and in the process scored himself an education gong at lifesaving’s night of nights.

An all-round surf lifesaver, North Bondi’s Paul Hotton, was acknowledged for his outstanding contribution to education at the annual Awards of Excellence in Sydney last weekend.

For Evans Head-Casino surf lifesaver Paul Ellem, passing on knowledge acquired through his vast experience is second nature and his local community is set to benefit for years to come.

To know where you’re going you sometimes need to look back, and for one Central Coast club this important understanding brought to life one of the outstanding local stories of the Second World War, and in the process earned them the 2018 Initiative of the Year Award.

For over 20 years, Bilgola’s Nigel Penn has been a valued and respected member of the lifesaving family having made contributions in a diverse range of areas across Club, Branch, State and National level.