August 6 - 12, 2017: Issue 324
2017 SLSNSW Awards of Excellence
Lara Boyle from Whale Beach SLSC crowned the prestigious Surf Lifesaver of the Year at SLSNSW Awards of Excellence - Saturday night, August 5th, 2017 - photo courtesy Surf Life Saving NSW
Lifesavers Scrub Up For Awards of Excellence
Saturday 5 August 2017Over 300 of the state’s finest surf lifesavers took time out away from the ocean on Saturday night to celebrate a successful season at a glittering ceremony in Sydney.
Central Coast clubs enjoyed a very successful night, taking home six awards including Community Education Program of the Year and Young Lifesaver for the 2016/17 season.
The Far North Coast Branch earned two awards while lifesavers from the Mid North Coast returned home as the winners in three categories including Rescue of the Year (Camden Haven SLSC).
Sydney and Sydney Northern Beaches clubs had plenty of reasons to smile, picking up eight awards between them while the Lower North Coast, North Coast, and Far South Coast branches also earned awards on the evening.
After volunteering more than 200 hours this season and impressing the panel with her knowledge of Surf Life Saving, Lara Boyle from Whale Beach SLSC was crowned the prestigious Surf Lifesaver of the Year.
"I'm so thrilled and honoured to receive this award. My club has been an amazing support and I'm forever grateful for the opportunities that I've been able to pursue," Lara Boyle said.
"I was privileged enough to achieve so much this year from being Club Captain to being part of NSW development programs and travelling to Japan for the Surf Life Saving Australia Lifesaving Exchange."
It was a fantastic achievement by the young lifesaver who wears many hats at her club.
There were also plenty of cheers when Bermagui SLSC was announced the Stramit Club of the Year. It’s been a challenging few years for the Far South Coast club which has worked extremely hard to turn around its fortunes.
"Thank you to our members. This is an amazing achievement as we were up against some big surf clubs across the state," President Bruce McAslan said.
"We have a very close group of members at Bermagui and this has given us the motivation to further enhance our club and surf lifesaving within our community."
The 2017 SLSNSW Awards of Excellence are proudly presented by Stramit Building Products. Over 300 of Surf Life Saving’s most outstanding lifesavers, athletes, educators, coaches, and administrators from around the state celebrated the season that was.
2017 SLSNSW Awards of Excellence Winners
Surf Sports
• Official of the Year - Wayne Scott (Red Rock-Corindi)
• Youth Athlete of the Year - Jemma Smith (Umina)
• Athlete of the Year - Jake Lynch (Newport)
• Masters Athlete of the Year - Paul Lemmon (Terrigal)
• Sport Team of the Year - Open First Aid Team (Freshwater)
• Coach of the Year - Jock Campbell (Wanda)
Member Services
• Administrator of the Year - Trish Watts (Shelly Beach)
• Services Team of the Year - Member Services Team (Mid North Coast)
Education
• Trainer of the Year - Susan Croad (Hat Head)
• Assessor of the Year - Ramzy Fawzy (Wamberal)
• Facilitator of the Year - Janne Moran (Pacific Palms)
• Initiative of the Year - Special Needs Branch Championships (Mona Vale)
• Community Education Program of the Year - Central Coast Branch
Lifesaving
• Junior Lifesaver of the Year - Elliott Prasad (Narrabeen Beach)
• Junior Lifesaver of the Year - Matilda Shirley (Byron Bay)
• Young Lifesaver of the Year - Ryan Chiswell (Ocean Beach)
• ALS Lifeguard of the Year - Jai Sheridan (Byron Shire)
• Rescue of the Year - Camden Haven SLSC
Overall
• Branch of the Year - Surf Life Saving Sydney
• Club of the Year - Bermagui SLSC
• Volunteer of the Year - Wayne Druery (Cronulla)
• Surf Lifesaver of the Year - Lara Boyle (Whale Beach)
By Surf Life Saving New South Wales
Junior Lifesaver of the Year - Elliott Prasad (Narrabeen Beach), photo courtesy Surf Life Saving NSW
High-Five For Northern Beaches Lifesavers
Monday 7 August 2017
Surf Lifesavers from Sydney’s Northern Beaches had plenty of reasons to smile as they claimed a host of awards at the 2017 NSW Awards of Excellence last Saturday night.
In a glittering ceremony at Sydney’s Hilton Hotel five awards including Lara Boyle (Whale Beach) taking out the overall NSW Surf Life Saver of the Year would ultimately return to the northern side of the harbour.
“There’s some really incredible guys and girls who were nominated for Surf Lifesaver of the Year so just to stand on the same stage let alone be called out it’s just amazing,” said a clearly delighted Lara Boyle.
“I was really privileged to be Whale Beach Club Captain this season and we’ve always punched above our weight but this is just the cherry on top.”
With surf sports being the opening category of the night the Freshwater Open First Aid Competition Team (Team of the Year), and Newport’s Jake Lynch (Athlete of the Year) being early winners.
“It’s been a good season all round and to win this award was unexpected and a real honour,” said Jake Lynch.
“We’ve got a lot of good athletes coming through Newport at the moment we’re looking forward to next season,” he said.
As surf clubs and programs including Nippers are becoming more accessible for children living with a disability each season it is becoming apparent that the chances for these young competitors to participate in competition are few and far between.
This prompted Mona Vale SLSC to stage the first ever Special Needs Branch Championships on Sydney Northern Beaches.
Forty competitors would ultimately register for this event which would go on to be named the 2017 Initiative of the Year, and the club hopes to grown this in coming seasons.
Elliot Prasad (Narrabeen Beach) was also recognised by the wider movement after being named the Male Junior Lifesaver of the Year following a leadership program back in April.
NSW Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence – Sydney Northern Beaches Recipients
• Surf Sports Team of the Year - Freshwater First Aid Team
• Athlete of the Year - Jake Lynch (Newport)
• Initiative of the Year -Mona Vale SLSC
• Junior Lifesaver of the Year - Elliot Prasad (Narrabeen Beach)
• Surf Lifesaver of the Year -Lara Boyle (Whale Beach)
The 2017 SLSNSW Awards of Excellence are proudly presented by Stramit Building Products. Over 300 of Surf Life Saving’s most outstanding lifesavers, athletes, educators, coaches, and administrators from around the state gathered at Sydney’s iconic The Hilton Hotel to celebrate the season that was.
By Surf Life Saving New South Wales
Initiative of the Year - Special Needs Branch Championships (Mona Vale) L to R: Michael Wasley, Rob Fry, David Moreton and MVSLSC President Bryce Munro - photo courtesy Surf Life Saving NSW
Athlete of the Year - Jake Lynch (Newport), photo courtesy Surf Life Saving NSW
Sport Team of the Year - Open First Aid Team (Freshwater) Kelly Dobrow and Cheryl White - photo courtesy Surf Life Saving NSW