News
Awards of Excellence Finalists Announced
Tuesday, 17 September 2013Surf Life Saving New Zealand is getting set to celebrate the outstanding commitment and heroic actions of its most elite lifeguards at the 2013 Awards of Excellence.
The awards evening will be held at the Amora Hotel in Wellington on Saturday September 21.
Every year, national and local awards are given to Surf Life Saving members to officially recognise them for their hard work and dedication to Surf Life Saving in New Zealand.
Most awards are nominated locally with winners then becoming finalists for the National Awards of Excellence.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand CEO Paul Dalton says it takes a lot of commitment to be a lifeguard and the awards that will be presented on Saturday are proof of that.
Some of the night's top awards include NZ Lottery Grants Board Lifeguard of the Year, DHL Volunteer of the Year and the BP Surf Rescue of the Year.
Along with the lifeguarding and sporting awards, there will be a number of Distinguished Service and Life Memberships awarded on the night.
Top award finalists:
Lifeguard of the Year
- James Walters, Brighton
- Hannah Laughton, Waimairi
- Paul Carlyon, Otaki
- Aidan Charman, Westshore
- Adam Fraser, Fitzroy
- Andrew Shelton, Midway
- James Bray, Whangamata
- Richard Kannemeyer, Mangawhai
Volunteer of the Year
- Mike Tames, Whangamata
- Hellen Windley, Foxton
- Ed Steenbergen, Nelson
- Anna Thorpe, Wainui
- Pilar Kruger, Ocean Beach Kiwi
- Liz and Simon Smith, Far North
- James Coombes, St Clair
- Michael DeBique, Opunake
Rescue of the Year
- St Clair
- Waihi
- Taylors Mistake
- Bethells Beach
- Purakanui
- Sunset Beach
Surf Official of the Year
- Dennis Trembath, Brighton
- David East, North Beach
- Teri Anderson, Paekakariki
- Harley McLaughlin, Waimarama
- Warren Clow, Fitzroy
- Ross Merrett, Papamoa
- Sue Quilter, Wainui
- Dave Shanks, Orewa
Instructor/Examiner of the Year
- Steph Botting, St Clair
- Bruce Lomax, South Brighton
- David Pontin, Palmerston North
- Brian Quirk, Westshore
- Fiona Climo, East End
- Ashleigh Hurring, Waikanae
- Ross Cowdrey, Papamoa
- Lauren Gibbs, Bethells
Coach of the Year
- James Coombes, St Clair
- Jacob Davies, Taylors Mistake
- Craig Jones, Lyall Bay
- Ryan Welch, Ocean Beach Kiwi
- Ron Cole, Fitzroy
- Scott Bartlett, Omanu
- Dion Williams Wainui
- Kurt Wilson, Papamoa
- Jason Pocock, Mairangi Bay