Some of the brightest stars within Victoria’s lifesaving and aquatic industry communities were honoured at Life Saving Victoria’s 17th annual Awards of Excellence evening on Saturday 1st August.
The annual evening celebrates the outstanding achievements and contributions by lifesaving volunteers and those working across the aquatic industry.
While it wasn’t LSV’s usual in-person gala dinner and was an online event this year because of Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, it was all about coming together and celebrating the best of the lifesaving and aquatic industry amid some challenging times.
There were more than 30 awards handed out this year and 118 nominations received, a record number.
Portsea Surf Life Saving Club won the coveted Beaurepaire Shield, receiving the title of 2020 Marsh Club of the Year. The club also celebrated multiple members who in the aquatic sports category took home Youth Team of the Year and Masters Team of the Year.
Rhys Cole, of Point Leo SLSC, was awarded the John Wishart Memorial Medal as the Microflite Lifesaver of the Year for his contribution to lifesaving over the past year, a year which has seen him recognised with the Gary Tierney Foundation Award and at the club level with a Club Captains Award.
The Graeme Long Memorial Medal Volunteer of the Year award went to Port Campbell SLSC’s James Green, who was recognised for the significant personal commitment shown in providing training to Mildura Life Saving Club – more than 500km from the coast, his club and his home.
Other notable award winners on the night were Lorne SLSC’s Lucas Karlson, who won Westpac Youth Lifesaver of the Year. Lucas’ efforts developing and coordinating the club’s skills development program were also recognised with LSV’s inaugural Innovation Award presented to Lorne SLSC for the program’s innovation in lifesaving to recognise and meet a need to train up younger members.
Hampton LSC’s Starfish Carnival and All Abilities Inclusion Day program was celebrated with the Outstanding Achievement of the Year award for its community-based, all-abilities program.
This year’s 2020 Awards of Excellence evening was delivered as a Facebook and Youtube Premiere, with friends, family and supporters invited to view the award proceedings as part of an online gala event.
Victorian Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville MP, who introduced the major award winners on the night, paid tribute to the efforts of LSV volunteers and members.
“It’s been a very difficult year for many people in Victoria, but it’s so important that we come together tonight to acknowledge the incredible contribution of our lifesavers right across Victoria in the last summer and in fact throughout the year,” she said.
Life Saving Victoria’s President, Paul James ASM also noted the unique challenges members and the aquatic community had faced over the year including the bushfires in Eastern Victoria and now the coronavirus pandemic and thanked the Victorian Government and award sponsors – Microflite, Westpac and Marsh – for their support of LSV’s Awards of Excellence this year.
“Our members and aquatic communities have faced these challenges with a willingness to help wherever possible and we thank all those who have contributed to these efforts especially during these unprecedented times,” he said.
The online event was well attended, with 576 unique viewers on Youtube and 456 engaged viewers on Facebook. On the night, the peak number of live viewers was 298 on Facebook and there were a further 190 on Youtube. To date, the Facebook video has had more than 5900 views and the YouTube video more than 700 views.
Awards of Excellence committee chair Belinda Porter said the online event was something the committee was proud of, given the circumstances this year.
“It was a terrific success, with a great turnout – we are really thrilled with how many members and supporters tuned in to watch the event.”
If you missed it on the night, the videos are available to watch anytime, visit https://lsv.com.au/2020-awards-of-excellence/
To read the event program, visit: https://issuu.com/lifesavingvictoria/docs/2020_lsv_aoe_program/2
FULL LIST 2020 AWARD WINNERS
Major Awards
Marsh Club of the Year (Beaurepaire Shield) – Portsea SLSC
Microflite Lifesaver of the Year (John Wishart Memorial Medal) – Rhys Cole, Point Leo SLSC
Westpac Youth Lifesaver of the Year – Lucas Karlson, Lorne SLSC
Volunteer of the Year (Graeme Long Memorial Medal) – James Green, Port Campbell SLSC
Outstanding Achievement of the Year – Starfish Carnival & All Abilities Inclusion Day, Hampton LSC
LSV Life Membership inductee (post-humous) – Robert O’Brien, Waratah Beach SLSC
Membership & Leadership Development Awards
Mike Martin AM Champion Junior Lifesaver Winners – Matthew Callaghan, Point Leo SLSC and Jemima Fitzgerald, Anglesea SLSC
Nipper Program Volunteer of the Year – Natalie Ashdown, Waratah Beach SLSC
Membership and Leadership Development Service Award Recipients – Heath Armstrong, Lorne SLSC and Natalie Ashdown, Waratah Beach SLSC
Aquatic Sports Awards
U14 & U15 Athlete of the Year – Stephanie Reade, Ocean Grove SLSC
Youth Athlete of the Year – Mia Spencer, Hampton LSC Open Athlete of the Year – James Petropoulos, Mordialloc LSC
Masters Athlete of the Year – Naantali Marshall, Anglesea SLSC
Youth Team of the Year – Portsea SLSC Youth Turtle Backs – U14 Women’s Surf Team, Portsea SLSC. Team members: Hannah Saadie, Francesca Dever, Genevieve Woolrich, Mackenzie Hunter
Masters Team of the Year – Portsea SLSC Masters Beach Relay Team, Portsea SLSC. Team Members: Henry Kiss, Dwight Harrison, Darren Kerr and Brett Croft
Coach of the Year – James Evans, Mordialloc LSC
Emerging Official of the Year – Rob O’Brien, Ocean Grove SLSC
Official of the Year – Tamara Brawn, Point Leo SLSC
Volunteer Training Awards
Volunteer Trainer of the Year – Joel Farrow, Williamstown S&LSC
Volunteer Assessor of the Year – Julia Clarke, Fairhaven SLSC
Public Training and Pool Safety Awards
LSV Service Member of the Year – Marcus Maher
LSV Licensee of the Year – Western Victoria First Aid Services
LSV Trainer of the Year – David Nankervis
Education Awards
Education Instructor of the Year – Tui Griffin
LSV Swim and Survive Licensee of the Year – Eltham Leisure Centre – Aligned Leisure
Innovation Award – Skills Development Program, Lorne SLSC, led by Lucas Karlson
Community Education Award – Mount Martha LSC schools program
Media Award
Media Service to Lifesaving Award – Tamara McDonald, Geelong Advertiser
Lifesaving Operations Awards
Beach Lifeguard of the Year – Hannah Tzimokas
Administration Club of the Year – Hampton LSC
Patrol Service Efficiency and Standards Program Award – Hampton LSC
