Omanu and Waihi Beach claim major lifesaving prizes

Omanu Beach and Waihi Beach Surf Life Saving Clubs have each received $5,000 from Zespri last night along with the honour of winning the Zespri Club of the Year titles for the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel areas respectively.

Part of Surf Life Saving's partnership with Zespri, which was formed last year, sees the top clubs in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel awarded $5,000 from Zespri to spend on lifesaving equipment.

Zespri General Manager Grower and External Relations Dave Courtney says around 85 percent of Zespri Kiwifruit is grown in the regions served by the Eastern Region surf clubs.

"Supporting these awards and providing free training for local lifeguards is our way of recognising the people who do so much for our communities, keeping our beaches safer for everyone to enjoy."

The 2017 Zespri Bay of Plenty & Coromandel Awards of Excellence took place at Club Mount Maunganui with the presentation of lifesaving, sport and regional service awards.

The evening's entertainment was provided by local performer Waylon McPherson and special guest speaker, international role model William Pike.

Surf Life Saving Clubs in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel areas include Trust Waikato Hot Water Beach, Trust Waikato Tairua, Trust Waikato Pauanui, Trust Waikato Onemana, Trust Waikato Whangamata, Trust Waikato Whiritoa, Trust Waikato Waihi Beach, Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service, Omanu Beach, Papamoa, Maketu, Pukehina, Whakatane and Opotiki.

To allow for the recognition of more volunteers across the large area, the lifesaving awards are split between the two respective areas.

As well as Zespri Club of the Year, some of the top awards included Lifeguard of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Rescue of the Year.

Bay of Plenty Lifeguard of the Year was awarded to Danielle Shepherd from Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service.

The purpose of this award is to recognise a member who had made an outstanding contribution to the delivery and development of drowning prevention services for Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ). It is aimed at active surf lifeguards undertaking lifeguarding duties.

Danielle patrolled 45 volunteer hours over the 2016/17 season and, among numerous other duties, was one of four key people involved in refreshing all 130 Mount Maunganui lifeguards.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Eastern Region Manager Chris Emmett says Danielle has put a great deal of time and effort into her club.

"She is a great asset to Mount Maunganui and her community and she thoroughly deserves the title of Lifeguard of the Year," he says.

Coromandel Lifeguard of the Year was awarded to Chaz Gibbons-Campbell from Whiritoa Surf Life Saving Club.

Chaz has volunteered 100 patrol hours over the summer season, acted as Patrol Captain, was involved in search and rescue operations and sat on the Local Lifesaving Committee among many other duties.

Mr Emmett says Chaz is always an enthusiastic patrol member who has worn numerous hats for the club.

"He always made sure patrol members were kept busy with training and development, ensuring swimmer safety and proactively helping his community such as running demonstrations around rip awareness and rescue techniques. He is a great advocate of surf lifesaving," he says.

Volunteer of the Year for the Bay of Plenty was awarded to Paul Treanor from Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service and to Jenny Peploe from Pauanui Surf Life Saving Club in the Coromandel.

The purpose of this award is to recognise an outstanding member who has made a significant volunteer contribution to enhancing surf lifesaving within their local area during the season.

Mr Emmett says not only has Paul and Jenny contributed greatly to their clubs but they have also had a positive influence on their communities.

Danielle, Chaz, Paul and Jenny will go on to be finalists for the national Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence which will be held in Auckland in September.

Rescue of the Year was awarded to Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty and Pauanui in the Coromandel.

Mount Maunganui's rescue took place on February 25 when, over the course of one hour, "Patrol Six" was deployed three times in a series of rescues as a rip developed. Despite the presence of warning signs, numerous swimmers were caught out and found themselves in need of rescue.

Pauanui's winning rescue took place on January 22 after the day's patrol had ended. The club received a call from the local Coastguard advising of two kayakers that had been swept out towards Shoe Island in very treacherous conditions. Lifeguards were quickly deployed in Inflatable Rescue Boats and located the kayakers, transferring them to a waiting Coastguard boat.

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service dominated the sporting side, claiming eight of the 17 sports awards.

They included Coach of the Year John Bryant, Official of the Year Greg Rieger, Under 14 Male Sportsperson of the Year Daniel Shanahan, Under 16 Male Sportsperson Lochlainn O'Connor, Under 16 Female Sportsperson Isabelle Akroyd, Under 19 Male Sportsperson Hamish Miller, Under 19 Female Sportsperson Libby Bradley and Open Male Sportsperson Adam Simpson.

The Whangamata Barrys team of Sam Stockley, Josh Kerridge, Lyndon Vickers, Brandon Dromgool and Andrew Jujunovich won Sports Team of the Year along with International Performance of the Year (team) while the individual International Performance of the Year went to Papamoa's Natalie Peat.

Mr Emmett says it was another great season for clubs in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel areas and the awards was a great way to celebrate all that they have achieved.

AWARD WINNERS

Bay of Plenty lifesaving awards:
Lifeguard of the Year: Danielle Shepherd, Mt Maunganui
Regional Lifeguard of the Year: Felix Cook, Mt Maunganui
Patrol Captain of the Year: Kent Jarman MNZM, Mt Maunganui
Instructor of the Year: Garry King, Mt Maunganui
Beach Ed Instructor of the Year: Dannielle O'Connor, Omanu Beach
Examiner of the Year: Danielle Shepherd, Mt Maunganui
Volunteer of the Year: Paul Treanor, Mt Maunganui
Rescue of the Year: Mt Maunganui
Patrol Club of the Year: Pukehina
Overall Club of the Year: Omanu Beach

Coromandel lifesaving awards:
Rookie Lifeguard of the Year: Terri Warner, Tairua
Lifeguard of the Year: Chaz Gibbons-Campbell, Whiritoa
Regional Lifeguard of the Year: Laura Beanland-Stephens, Tairua
Patrol Captain of the Year: Daniel Gordon, Pauanui
Instructor of the Year: Cameron Bishop, Whiritoa
Beach Ed Instructor of the Year: Rikayla Richardson, Waihi Beach
Examiner of the Year: Chaz Gibbons-Campbell, Whiritoa
Volunteer of the Year : Jenny Peploe, Pauanui
Rescue of the Year: Pauanui
Patrol Club of the Year: Hot Water Beach
Overall Club of the Year: Waihi Beach

Sport awards:
Emerging Coach of the Year: Craig Julian, Whakatane
Coach of the Year: John Bryant, Mt Maunganui
Emerging Official of the Year: Sarah Farr, Papamoa
Official of the Year: Greg Rieger, Mt Maunganui
Sports Team of the Year: Whangamata Barrys: Sam Stockley, Josh Kerridge, Lyndon Vickers, Brandon Dromgool, Andrew Jujunovich
Sports Person of the Year- U14 Male: Daniel Shanahan, Mt Maunganui
Sports Person of the Year- U14 Female: Lucinda Bartlett, Omanu Beach
Sports Person of the Year- U16 Male: Lochlainn O'Connor, Mt Maunganui
Sports Person of the Year- U16 Female: Isabella Akroyd, Mt Maunganui
Sports Person of the Year- U19 Male: Hamish Miller, Mt Maunganui
Sports Person of the Year- U19 Female: Libby Bradley, Mt Maunganui
Sports Person of the Year- Open Male: Adam Simpson, Mt Maunganui
Sports Person of the Year- Open Female: Devon Halligan, Omanu Beach
Sports Person of the Year- Masters Male: Ian Glover, Omanu Beach
Sports Person of the Year- Masters Female: Jol McGarvey, Omanu Beach
International Performance- Individual: Natalie Peat, Papamoa
International Performance- Team: Whangamata Barrys: Sam Stockley, Josh Kerridge, Lyndon Vickers, Brandon Dromgool, Andrew Jujunovich

Eastern Region Service Awards:
Matthew Williams, Pauanui
Paul Treanor, Mt Maunganui
Peter Stewart, Omanu Beach
John Gibson, Maketu
Ian Glover, Omanu Beach
Hamish Reid, Whakatane
Briar Macken, Omanu Beach
Martine Smith, Pauanui
Bruce Matheson, Omanu Beach

Eastern Region Distinguished Service Award:
John Bryant, Mt Maunganui

Zespri Coromandel Club of the Year, Waihi Beach

Zespri Bay of Plenty Club of the Year, Omanu Beach

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Smith, Media & Communications Manager, SLSNZ
Phone 0276 488 823 or email  lisa.smith@surflifesaving.org.nz

or 

Chaz Gibbons-Campbell, Club & Member Development Officer, Surf Life Saving Eastern Region
Phone 027 562 3337 or email chaz.gibbons-campbell@surflifesaving.org.nz