Newport SLSC’s Gary Cook Receives SLSA President's Medal
One of the outstanding members of the Newport SLSC we have had the privilege to run as a Profile of the Week was presented with the surf Life Saving Australia’s President’s Medal on Friday November 7th at the headquarters at Belrose.
The SLSA President' Medal was first introduced in 2007 when there were three levels of Awards established - Life Membership, President's Medal and Sustained Service Certificate. Prior to this there was only the Life Membership category.
To put this Award into some form of perspective there are currently approximately 100 living SLSA Life Members and there have been 41 President's Medals awarded since 2007 out of a total SLSA Australia wide membership of close to 167,000 people.
So it is a very great Honour to receive one of these Awards.
In 2014 there were only two SLSA Life Memberships awarded and three President's Medals including Gary's award.
This is the first President's Medal to be awarded to a Newport SLSC member in its 105 year history. The late Bert King OAM is the only member of that Club who has been awarded SLSA Life Membership.
The Citation on the Certificate reads "IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AND SERVICE TO SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTRALIA"
This award is not based on years of service although it is part of the criteria (Gary is currently in his 53rd year of continuous membership with Newport SLSC). There are SLSA Service Awards for 25, 30, 40, 50, 60 & 70 years Membership.
Gary is very happy with the Award and has no plans for retirement from the movement in the near future.
“ Maybe a bit of scaling back but whilst my health remains good I will continue as I enjoy it so much, particularly the camaraderie side of things with fellow Club members and other SLSA members Australian wide.” Gary told us this week.
Mr. Cook is currently giving Coaching assistance to Warriewood Ladies and Queenscliff Men’s March Past teams, and also assisted with the Mona Vale Nippers March Past team last season where his eldest daughter Amanda Berrell was the Head Coach.
This is on top of his usual Carnival Official duties right up to the Australian Championships, Gear Scrutineering and assistance with Beach Gear maintenance.
Gary is also still working part time as a self employed contractor.
CONGRATULATIONS…..Gary Cook, one of the two coaches of the Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club March Past Team has been awarded the prestigious SLSA Presidents Medal for service to Surf Life Saving at club, state and national levels. Whilst Gary's first loyalty is to his home club, Newport, he and Ray Isaacs have spent the past five years as coaches of Queenscliff’s march past team and have become very much honorary members of our club. All members will join with the march past in congratulating Gary on the well deserved honour. Well done Gary. - Queenscliff SLSC
Mr Bob Langbein, Gary Cook and Doug Menzies who were both very instrumental in putting Gary’s Nomination forward to SLSA. Bob is a long term member (60+years) of Collaroy SLSC where he is a Life Member and is also a Life Member of SLSSNB Branch and SLSNSW. Doug is a past President and now Life Member of Newport SLSC and also the President SLSSNB Branch.
