The Surf Life Saving Australia Awards of Excellence celebrated our nation’s most outstanding members across every facet of the movement, including several NSW lifesavers and initiatives. Congratulations to the following award winners for 2025.
Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year
Nic McGibbon, Bungan Beach SLSC
Nic is one of the youngest members of his club’s Board but already one of its most influential. As Director of Lifesaving, Patrol Captain, Training Officer, and IRB Racing Team Manager, Nic balances an incredible workload with humility, enthusiasm, and genuine care for others.
Last season, he contributed over 258 patrol hours, led a full overhaul of patrol operations, and established an additional patrol team, ensuring consistent beach coverage for one of Sydney Northern Beaches smallest clubs. His innovation extended beyond his own club, building an inter-club training partnership with Long Reef SLSC, which improved candidate experience, reduced trainer fatigue, and doubled participation in IRB racing.
Through his training and mentorship, Nic has guided more than 40 members to new awards and piloted an IRB Engine Masterclass to grow technical knowledge. Passionate, capable, and inspiring across all ages, Nic is strengthening lifesaving today while building sustainable foundations for the future.
Surf Sport Coach of the Year
Scott McCartney, Cudgen Headland SLSC
Scott McCartney’s leadership and coaching expertise have been instrumental in delivering success across all levels of Surf Life Saving during the 2024/25 season. As Head Coach at Cudgen Headland SLSC, he has driven athlete development across all age groups, leading the club to dominant performances at Branch, State, and National carnivals. His leadership of the Far North Coast Interbranch Team and SLSNSW Country Dolphins has elevated regional athletes to elite competition, while his appointment as Head Coach of the NSW Country Trans-Tasman Team reflects his standing at the International level.
Scott’s structured coaching programs, mentorship of junior coaches and commitment to athlete engagement have fostered a high-performance culture. His athletes achieved outstanding results across Youth, Open, and Masters divisions, including multiple medals at State, National, and World Championships. Through continuous self-development and innovation, Scott has built a sustainable coaching legacy and remains a driving force in surf sports excellence.
Community Education Program of the Year
The Blackspot Project – North Entrance SLSC
The Blackspot Project at The Entrance Channel, led by the Rookie lifesavers at North Entrance SLSC, is a powerful community safety campaign addressing one of the region’s most dangerous waterways. The calm, shallow channel has been the site of multiple drownings and the Rookies set out to change that.
After researching at-risk groups and past incidents, they developed simple, direct safety messages translated into multiple languages and distributed them in a unique way: fridge magnets for local hotels, rental homes and caravan parks. Supported by flyers, posters, and a QR-linked website, the campaign encouraged visitors to stay out of the channel and swim between the flags just 200 metres away.
Launched on Australia Day with a rip demonstration, community stall, and media coverage, the initiative reached thousands and established the foundation for a lasting safety legacy. This innovative project has not only raised awareness but also empowered the next generation of surf lifesavers to take ownership of water safety in their community.
Thursday 6 November 2025