Three key awards for lifesavers on the North and Far North Coast of NSW, announced at the SLSNSW Awards of Excellence, has highlighted the strength of volunteers in key regional areas across the state.
Announced at a gala ceremony in Sydney on Saturday 24 August, members from Woolgoolga SLSC, Evans Head-Casino SLSC and Cudgen Headland SLSC claimed important lifesaving awards across three categories on a night where volunteers from up and down the NSW coastline recognised the achievements of more than 78,000 members across the state.
The first award of the night, Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year, went to Larnie Mordue from Woolgoolga SLSC – just reward for a season in which the 16-year-old was an Age Manager within her club, led her Branch at the Interbranch Championships as the Team Captain in December last year, and established herself as a role model for younger members.
She is the first lifesaver from the North Coast Branch to win the award and the second in three years after Sven Loemker from Cudgen Headland (Far North Coast Branch) to take the crown home to the northern regions of NSW.
“It means so much and it’s so much more than a ‘me’ award, it’s so much down to my branch and my club and I’m so proud to have been built up by such great people,” she said.
“The people in the Surf Life Saving community lift you up and help you along the way and that’s definitely the biggest and best part about it.”
Gary Raso from Cudgen Headland SLSC would later pick up a win in the Support Operations Member of the Year category – a crucial pillar in the evolving lifesaving space which recognises the duty officers, call out team members and UAV/RWC operators who respond to incidents at all times of the day and night.
He was followed by Branch-mate and Evans Head-Casino member, Elyse McMaster who was named the NSW Volunteer of the Year. In doing so, she became the first lifesaver from north of the Hunter since 1998 to earn the title.
“I started out as a Nipper way back in 1994 at Forster, so it’s been a big journey,” Elyse said.
“This past season I’ve taken on the Junior Activity Coordinator role, and all my children are involved. They’re all on patrol with us, all 80 hours or so that we’ve patrolled this past season, and we love it.”
Representing the Ballina Shire, Lily Murphy – herself a member of Lennox Head-Alstonville SLSC – was also named the Lifeguard of the Year.
Wednesday 28 August 2024