Jackson Borg from Newport Surf Life Saving Club had plenty to smile about as he took home the Surf Sports Athlete of the Year Award at the Surf Life Saving NSW Awards of Excellence in Sydney.
The annual Awards of Excellence honour outstanding achievements in all aspects of surf life saving, including surf sports. A record number of lifesavers from across NSW attended the event held Sydney on 31 August.
Television personality and Surf Life Saving member, Tom Williams, hosted the evening. He shared the stage with the state’s top surf lifesavers as they were honoured in front of their peers.
The Athlete of the Year is a highly competitive award with all the finalists this season achieving considerable success on the state, national and international stage.
Newport’s Jackson Borg took out the award due to the consistency of his performance at every level of competition. He won from a group of eight finalists from across NSW.
“I’m super stoked. I didn’t expect to win the award. I’m glad all the hard work paid off.
“Everyone who was nominated are extremely amazing athletes, so I was just pleased to be in the running with them,” said Jackson Borg.
Not only is Jackson the 2019 NSW Open Ironman champion, his outstanding results across all levels of competition include gold in the NSW Interstate Board Race, the Interbranch Open Ironman and the Sydney Northern Beaches Taplin and Board Rescue events.
He brought home silver in the Open Ironman at the International Life Saving World Championships and the Ocean 6 Series Run Swim Run.
“In ten years’ time I still want to be competing in Ironman competition. I want to be solidified in the Nutri-Grain series - hopefully in the top five,” said Jackson.
Jackson was a member of the successful Australian Life Saving Open Team competing for the Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup in Japan. This was the third time he represented Australia and returned with a swag of medals.
As well as spending countless hours training, he is an active and popular member of the Newport Surf Life Saving Club, promoting positivity and perseverance in everyone.
“I also want to help all the younger guys at the surf club. Help them to hopefully be where I’m at. It’s extremely important for me to be able to give back to the surf club.
“It’s a goal of mine to be a good role model for the younger kids,” said Jackson.
Jackson has spent a lot of time passing on his skills and surf knowledge as an instructor and team leader with the Surf Life Saving Sydney Northern Beaches education team.
“It’s great to be fit and to be able to compete at a high level but it’s awesome to be able to help someone in trouble and potentially safe a life. It’s the foundation of what we do,” Jackson concluded.
In Education Assessor of the Year is Mike Le Geyt, South Curl Curl SLSC.
Mike has great passion for education and training. An active trainer, assessor and facilitator, he is one amazing Chief Instructor, keeping his club’s 25 patrols proficient and thriving.
As one of the most active educators in the state, Mike has been part of updating and renewing courses, promoting and integrating e-learning as well as coordinating advanced training opportunities branch-wide.
Mike has lead the way in education at South Curl Curl and the Sydney Northern Beaches branch for the last four seasons. He facilitated 14 out of 21 club courses last season.
Assessor of the Year is Mike Le Geyt, South Curl Curl SLSC, with SLS SNB Branch President Doug Menzies. Photo by Surf Life Saving NSW
Louis Tassone, North Curl Curl SLSC and Naomi Scott, Manly LSC both were recognised at this year's Surf Life Saving NSW Awards of Excellence, Louis being named Official of the Year and Naomi winning Youth Athlete of the Year.
One of the friendliest and most level-headed Officials on the beach, Louie is dedicated to the development of surf sports locally and nation-wide. A senior Official at branch, state and national events, Louie is recognised by his fellow officials, competitors, managers and spectators for his respect, fairness and positivity.
Last season Louis delivered key initiatives including practical training sessions for new officials and deployed the Sports Team App to improve communication and efficiency for all involved in Branch events.
Louis has worked with neighbouring Sydney and Central Coast branches to coordinate event calendars to provide greater opportunities for competitors and promote overall participation. Louis has recently been elected as Sydney Northern Beaches Director of Surf Sports. In his role he will deliver and drive some of the biggest events in the state, represent Surf Sports officials and continue his work all areas of surf sports.
Official of the Year - Louis Tassone, North Curl Curl SLSC. Photo by Surf Life Saving NSW
Whether it’s in the waves or pool, 2019 Youth Athlete of the Year from Manly Life Saving Club, Naomi Scott always gives 100 percent.
Naomi is one of the state’s most talented and promising athletes. She continues to improve her record every season.
In the 2018/19 season, Naomi was the silver medallist in the Australian Championship Under 19 Ironwoman and took out the State Titles in the Under 19 Swim Team, Board Relay and Ski Relay and the Open Sprint Relay. She won Branch Titles in the Open Taplin, Under 19 Double Ski, Open Board Rescue, Under 19 Board Rescue and the Open Ski Relay.
Suffice to say she’s won more gold medals than most people twice her age. She has competed at the highest level of competition and represented the branch, state and Australia across two age groups.
Naomi was the co-captain of the Australian Youth Life Saving Team for the 2018 ILS World Championships in Adelaide and again she led the successful Australian Open Team competing for the Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup in Japan.
Naomi is a positive role model for her club and has shown an extraordinary ability to find balance across her training that includes 12 sessions per week, second-year university studies, patrols, coaching juniors and elite competition.
Youth Athlete of the Year - Naomi Scott, Manly LSC. Photo by Surf Life Saving NSW
2019 AWARD RECIPIENTS
SPORT
Official of the Year - Louis Tassone, North Curl Curl SLSC
Coach of the Year - Sean Golding, Sawtell SLSC
Surf Sports Team of the Year - Under 17 Male Board Relay, Swansea Belmont SLSC
Youth Athlete of the Year - Naomi Scott, Manly LSC
Masters Athlete of the Year - Paul Lemmon, Terrigal SLSC
Athlete of the Year - Jackson Borg, Newport SLSC
MEMBERSHIP
Junior Lifesaver of the Year (female) - Mikala Campbell, Ballina Lighthouse & Lismore SLSC
Junior Lifesaver of the Year (male) - Ainsley Dalton, Woolgoolga SLSC
Administrator of the Year - Michael Cameron, Taree-Old Bar SLSC
Services Team of the Year - Bondi Education Team, Bondi SBLSC
Youth Volunteer of the Year - Aidan Yourell, Evans Head Casino SLSC
EDUCATION
Innovation Award - Development of Joint Operations Search and Rescue Capability, Far South Coast
Community Education Program of the Year - Maroubra Marlins, Maroubra SLSC
Trainer of the Year - Markus Meier-Lindner, Bulli SLSC
Assessor of the Year - Mike Le Geyt, South Curl Curl SLSC
Facilitator of the Year - Paul Duignan, Copacobana SLSC
LIFESAVING
Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year - Kai Darwin, Umina Beach SLSC
Patrol Captain of the Year - Kaitlin Smith, Cudgen Headland SLSC
Patrol of the Year - Patrol 12, Umina Beach SLSC
Rescue of the Year - North Cronulla SLSC
President's Medal - Cheryl McCarthy, Bermagui SLSC
Lifeguard of the Year - Ben Dickens, Ballina
OVERALL
Branch of the Year - Far South Coast
Club of the Year - Umina Beach SLSC
Volunteer of the Year - Wendy Law, Broulee Surfers SLSC
Port Authority of NSW Surf Lifesaver of the Year - Mathew Harper, Maroubra SLSC
The 2019 SLSNSW Awards of Excellence are proudly supported by Port Authority of New South Wales. Almost 500 of Surf Life Saving’s most outstanding lifesavers, athletes, educators, coaches, and administrators from around the state celebrated the awards.
By Surf Life Saving NSW