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.
Patrol One currently consists of 18 Bronze holders, 4 SRC and 2 Rookies. They are all proficient, and are an extremely well trained and passionate group of surf lifesavers.
In the 2017/18 season the team recorded almost 900 hours combined on duty.
As patrol Captain, on occasions Bob will stand aside and pass responsibility to the Vice Captain to run the patrol for the shift and or conduct scenarios
There is a culture of learning within the team. Existing members help progress the new Bronze members to extend their training, particularly with surf skills and practical patrolling aspects that are not covered in their formal Bronze training.
This excellent team was in full review when the Branch assessors came for the Branch Patrol Competition. Patrol One was assessed twice scoring 337 and 343 out of 350 to help the club win the overall Branch Patrol Competition.
Rookie development on patrol is tasked to the senior Bronze holders. For the last couple of years, this role has been given to Peter Talty who is the club’s rookie coordinator. Peter ensures all “Log book” requirements are completed, and that rookies have an enjoyable patrolling experience.
This patrol has gone into the community to help community groups including the Umina Soccer Club, Club Umina, Umina Men’s Shed and the Morning Star Lodge Freemasons with defibrillator and resuscitation training.
Umina Director of Lifesaving Paul Sharpe was delighted with the team receiving the award.
“Patrol One is a credit to the club. They are led extremely well by Bob and have a real family spirit.
“It’s not usual to see them out and about doing whatever they can to help out the community, and I congratulate them on achieving this award,” Mr Sharpe concluded.
The 2018 SLSNSW Awards of Excellence are proudly supported by Port Authority of New South Wales with almost 400 of Surf Life Saving’s most outstanding lifesavers, athletes, educators, coaches, and administrators from around the state gathering at Dockside, Cockle Bay to celebrate the season that was.
For a full list of all the winners, and to see photographs from the night, please visit the SLSNSW Awards of Excellence Event Page or our social media channels
Wednesday 29 August 2018