Surf Life Saving Sydney Northern Beaches Awards of Excellence 2014
The SLS SNB Awards of Excellence recognises outstanding achievements and contributions in all aspects of Surf Life Saving. The awards celebrate the accomplishments of members and clubs in the 2013/14 season. This year’s awards were presented at the Surf Life Saving SNB Awards of Excellence function on Friday 27th June 2014 held at The Dee Why RSL.
Newport ‘scooped the pool’ this year among the Pittwater clubs. John Guthrie, who is Outstanding Media Service Award winner this year, sent through:
Newport Surf Club has bagged a swag of awards at the Northern Beaches Branch awards night held at the Dee Why RSL Club.
Standout awards were Max Brooks who won the Athlete of The Year and the Under 19 Male Water Team winning Team of The Year award. Newport also won the Branch Championship Handicap Point Score and Most Outstanding Club in Lifesaving. While Newport’s Jess Menzies won the Facilitator of the Year award.
Max with MP Rob Stokes: Picture Bill Sheridan
According to Rob Emerson, Newport's President, the awards are the icing on the cake for an amazing 2013/2014 season for the club.
"We had an outstanding season in competition while at the same time providing a highly professional life saving service on the beach at Newport.
"The club is definitely on a high right now and we can't wait for the 2014/2015 season to commence. We are indeed lucky to have not only great competitors but also a membership which is happy to help at carnivals and other events doing all the mundane jobs that are necessary for the successful running of a surf club" said Rob.
Newport Surf Club will hold its AGM at the Robin Cale Clubroom on Sunday 27 July starting at 3pm when the management committee is elected for the coming season.
North Palm Beach president Graham Howard won the Branch Outstanding Service [Harry Ragan] Award and North Palmy also won the Most Improved Club and Education awards.
"This is just tremendous for the club. We are getting some new people to spur others on,'' Mr. Howard said at the Awards of Excellence evening.
Graham Howard was also presented with his State Life Membership from SLSNSW president Tony Haven at the Branch function. Photo: Vicki Huston.
Bilgola’s Don McManus won Coach of the Year, while Avalon Beach SLSC won most Outstanding Club Support & Youth Member Development and came 5th in the Patrol Comp.
Carol and Don McManus - AJG picture.
The Most Outstanding Club of the Year was Dee Why.
"You could have blown me over with a feather,'' was the reaction from the Dee Why Club’s vice-president, Marty Quinn. "I thought we may have finished fourth at best,'' he said.
"Obviously everyone at our club has done the work and it all came together. It was a great effort by everyone at the club from the people who run the nippers right through to the president [Simon Moriarty]. Simon, unfortunately, couldn't attend the function at Dee Why RSL on Friday night as he was at the State IRB Championships at South West Rocks.
The other nominated clubs were Collaroy, North Steyne, Newport and North Curl Curl .
It was another win for Dee Why at the Awards of Excellence when the club won Initiative of the Year. The After Dark Youth Program was the brainchild of club members Jessica Cotterill and Zachary Dibben; “You don't do it for the accolades, you do it because you love it.''
Rob Cook, Narrabeen Beach Surf Club, was named the Life Saver of the Year for Sydney Northern Beaches Branch.
Rob was still trying to come to terms that he has won this prestigious award earlier this week considering he will be coming up for his ninth patrolling season.
"I preferred to play cricket and other sports in my younger days. It wasn't until I got married and had kids that I thought I'd join the surf life saving movement,'' Rob said. "Life saving is something the whole family can be involved in. My wife Tammy has been a nippers director here and then finance director and both my kids Ella and William are involved in the nippers.''
Rob thought it was fantastic just to be nominated but not in his wildest dreams did he think he would win.
Trainer of the Year for SLS Sydney Northern Beaches is Killarney High School teacher and Narrabeen Beach Surf Club member Matt Murphy who joined the club six years ago. “It’s good to be nominated but you don’t think you’ll ever win,’’ Matt said.
Matt says he gets a real buzz out of the life saving events and first aid; “That’s the thing about surf life saving. It caters for everyone’s interest. My wife [Jodie] is into the competition side of it but I prefer the life saving aspect.’’
The Branch award for Rescue of the Year was won by the South Narrabeen club members who saved the life of a woman who had an allergy to bluebottles on Sunday 9th of February 2014. These members also received the State (SLSNSW - March 2014) and National Rescue of the Month (SLSA – February 2014). Patrolling members were Peter Madden (Patrol Captain), Angie Thorpe, Jacinta Paquay, Chris Gale and Sean Coutts.
South Narrabeen’s Andy Cross won Northern Beaches Volunteer of the Year. This is also the Surf Club that also supports and runs the Bush to Beach Program each year!
"You don't do it for the accolades, you do it because you love it.'' Andy commented at the awards.
North Steyne landed a treble at the SLSSNB Awards of Excellence. Apart from president Tracey Hare-Boyd winning Assessor of the Year, the club took first place in the Patrol Assessment Competition and Administration. The club was also runner up to Dee Why for the Most Outstanding Club of the Year.
Julia Baker of Freshwater was awarded Young Life Saver of the Year at the Awards of Excellence. "There were so many good people nominated for this award,'' said the Freshwater Club member who didn’t think she would win. Julia's aim is to become a Patrol Captain at Freshwater and encourage the younger kids to stay involved in a movement she absolutely loves. A Pymble Ladies College Year 10 student, Julia turns 16 this month – July!
North Curl Curl's Louis Tassone was named Official of the Year. Administrator of the Year is Manly LSC’s Alex Hill. "It's a real pat on the back and recognition for the hard work,'' Alex said when receiving her award. On top of being club treasurer, Alex is now Manly's boat captain. Aledx rowed for the very successful Palm Beach Pokopanos last season but will be back rowing for Manly along with Bec Mobbs and Jaimie-lee Patterson.
Sydney Northern Beaches Branch also has four new life members - Ray Isaacs [Collaroy], Steve Haggett [Dee Why], Judy Tier [Manly] and Wayne Schwebel [Newport]. They have given fabulous service to surf life saving on the northern beaches.
They received their awards at the Awards of Excellence at Dee Why RSL, along with Adrian Hill, of Narrabeen Beach, who was presented with his Distinguished Service award.
Our picture shows past president David Murray, Wayne, Ray, Steve, Judy, Adrian and new president Doug Menzies at the function. Photo: Vicki Huston
And a big thank you to Greg Bennett for his continued support of SLS Sydney Northern Beaches.
Greg [fourth from right] presents the Malibu racing board to the Newport Club, overall handicap carnival point score winners, at the Awards of Excellence.
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Our thanks to John Taylor, Media Coordinator SLSSNB for the stats, Bill Sheridan and Vicki Huston for their great pictures, and John Guthrie for his assistance in putting this page together.