Two NSW lifesavers have been recognised for their tremendous efforts during the 2025/26 season with category wins at the Surf Life Saving Australia Awards of Excellence, while many more have received Meritorious Awards in appreciation of their acts of bravery beyond their normal duties as volunteers.
At a gala ceremony in Sydney on Saturday 7 November, Harrison Wicks of Gerringong SLSC was named the Australian Young Surf Lifesaver of the Year, while Dane Sutton of Wanda SLSC took out the Youth Athlete of the Year category.
Both awards are deserved recognition for tremendous seasons – Harrison representing the movement and his community with pride as a valued member of the South Coast club, while Dane swept the medals at local, state and national surf sports events, firming himself as a star of the future.
He will have his first chance to prove himself on the big stage less than a week later, as he represents his club and state as the male Nex-Gen competitor in the 2026/27 Iron Series, with Round 1 at Thirroul on the weekend of 14-15 November.
Meanwhile, NSW members and clubs were honoured through five Meritorious Award presentations – deserved recognition for a number of outstanding rescues that date back over the past couple of seasons.
Adam Kovac, Saskia Rundle-Trowbridge, Jacob Rodwell and Mark Bonney, representing Mona Vale SLSC were recognised for their efforts on 21 January 2024 when they rescued three teenagers from the notorious Warriewood blowhole in challenging 6-8 foot swells, while several members from Dee Why SLSC saw their bravery acknowledged for an incident in January 2025, when they rescued a person prior to patrol from a hazardous rock platform near Dee Why point and provided CPR until Paramedics arrived.
Two Bondi SBLSC members, Hamish Baldock and Phoenix Schregardous were recognised for their role in a rescue at Crescent Head while on holidays in November 2025, entering challenging surf and swimming 100m to a man in distress, while both Bondi and North Bondi surf clubs were recognised for their response to the Bondi attack incident on 14 December 2025.
Charlie Verco (North Bondi SLSC) and Ben Heenan (Coogee SLSC), too, were acknowledged for their efforts in the rescue of a woman involved in a shark incident at Coogee Beach on 13 June 2026.
Thursday 12 November 2026