A consistent theme across clubs and branches in lifesaving is a focus on growth, pathways and opportunities for our future leaders. Our youth act as a key pillar in maintaining and strengthening our role in the community into the future.
As we edge closer to our NSW Awards of Excellence ceremony – a night to celebrate the incredible people in our organisation and the impact they have on their clubs, its members and their local communities – we are shining a light on some of the inspirational people who are being recognised for their contribution to the community through Surf Life Saving.
The Youth category consists of three awards in 2024: Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year, and Youth Athlete of the Year.
The longest standing award in its current form is the last of the three – Youth Athletes have recorded winners back to 1998 when a plucky young Manly LSC member, Ky Hurst was recognised as one of the best up-and-comers in surf sports.
The following year he would win his first of four straight Australian Ironman titles, and he’d later represent Australia at the Olympic Games as a distance swimmer. A similar fate may await any one of our nominees in 2024.
It’s 15 years since Redhead SLSC had a winner (Isaac Morgan); a perfect platform for NSW Open Ironwoman Champion, Lani Waller to be the next Hunter winner. Meanwhile, Kobe Sorenson and Pipi Te Pania from North Cronulla SLSC and Newport SLSC, respectively, will be hoping to etch their names and those of their clubs back into history, with the Sydney and Sydney Northern Beaches branches producing the last two winners.
Leading the regional charge, Maddix Burke out of Warilla Barrack Point SLSC and Isabella Tate from Cudgen Headland SLSC both had outstanding seasons and will factor heavily in the reckoning.
The title of Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year, formerly Young Lifesaver U19 of the Year, is a highly sought-after stepping stone to bigger things within the movement. It highlights patrolling members between 15 and 21 years who have made outstanding contributions to Surf Life Saving over the previous season.
2023 Youth Volunteer of the Year, Bellambi SLSC’s Halle Bone is amongst the finalists this time around and could add another title to her name. She’d also follow in the footsteps of clubmate, Brody Robertson who was named last year’s Youth Surf Lifesaver winner.
Six previous winners out of 14 have come from the Central Coast, including an incredible run of five straight between Ocean Beach SLSC (3) and Umina SLSC (2) – perhaps a good omen for Davara Marshall from Avoca Beach SLSC.
Erin Domeny of Broulee Surfers SLSC, Cooper Walsh of Warilla Barrack Point, Lucas Guiney of Cape Hawke SLSC and Larnie Mordue of Woolgoolga SLSC could all become first time winners from their clubs and branch.
Youth Volunteer of the Year is the most recently established award of the three – first coming into the Awards of Excellence in 2018.
Gemma Eady-Muxlow is among the litany of nominees to have previously featured at a Junior Lifesaver of the Year camp and will fly the flag for the Lower North Coast Branch and Crowdy Head SLSC. Lily Gazzardis also a previous JLOTY finalist and stands to be Kiama Downs SLSC’s second AOE winner after Nathan Foster in the Masters Athlete of the Year category in 2023.
Further up the coast, Ollie Byrne at South West Rocks SLSC is the only finalist this year to represent a club with a previous winner (Georgia Gaddes, 2022).
2024 YOUTH FINALISTS
Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year
Cooper Flaherty, Salt SLSC
Larnie Mordue, Woolgoolga SLSC
Ewan McAllister, Tacking Point SLSC
Lucas Guiney, Cape Hawke SLSC
Reef Mirisch, Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest SLSC
Davara Marshall, Umina SLSC
Eloise Love, Bungan Beach SLSC
Ruby Thomasyu, Coogee SLSC
Halle Bone, Bellambi SLSC (23’ Youth Volunteer Winner)
Cooper Walsh, Warilla Barrack Point SLSC
And Erin Domeny, Broulee Surfers SLSC
Youth Volunteer of the Year
Toby Dix, Cabarita Beach SLSC
Ollie Byrne, South West Rocks SLSC
Gemma Eady-Muxlow, Crowdy Head SLSC
Jordyn Haig, Cooks Hill SLSC
Bailey Green, North Avoca SLSC
Amanda Cannon, South Curl Curl SLSC
Noah Teitler, South Maroubra SLSC
Alyssa Norris, Windang SLSC
Lily Gazzard, Kiama Downs SLSC
Michaela Fitzpatrick, Moruya SLSC
Youth Athlete of the Year
Isabella Tate, Cudgen Headland SLSC
Ethan Maher, Port Macquarie SLSC
Miley Cox, Black Head SLSC
Lani Waller, Redhead SLSC
Davara Marshall, Avoca Beach SLSC
Pipi Te Pania, Newport SLSC
Kobe Sorensen, North Cronulla SLSC
Brayden Woodford, Bulli SLSC
Maddix Burke, Warilla Barrack Point SLSC
Sophie Bolton, Moruya SLSC
Monday 19 August 2024