News
SLSNZ Announces Finalists for the 2024 National Awards of Excellence
Thursday, 19 September 2024Committed volunteer Surf Lifeguards, officials, instructors, coaches and athletes have been selected as finalists for this year’s Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) National Awards of Excellence.
SLSNZ CEO Steve Fisher says that the organisation’s volunteers continued to make a huge difference in New Zealand communities.
“This year our 4,329 lifeguards undertook 242,299 patrol hours and assisted 1,127 people to safety. We undertook 204 searches at Aotearoa’s beaches, and saved an incredible 893 lives.
“That’s a spectacular achievement by many thousands of dedicated people, particularly our volunteers.
“I want to thank all our lifeguards and our search and rescue teams for their amazing commitment this year.”
The SLSNZ Awards of Excellence are held every year to recognise and celebrate the many club members putting in considerable time, effort and skills at a grass-roots level to make sure Kiwis who head to the beach get home safe.
Steve says, “The National Awards of Excellence are an opportunity for us to acknowledge and honour the hard work, dedication and outstanding achievements that have taken place over the course of the year. My thanks to all those who won area awards and to the finalists. You’re all amazing and finding winners was extremely difficult.”
The Awards will be held on September 21 in Christchurch when the winners will be announced, alongside service awards, life memberships and 50 year badges.
The 2023-24 SLSNZ National Awards of Excellence winners will be announced on the SLSNZ Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/surflifesaving early next week.
The finalists are:
bp Search and Rescue Contribution of the year
Guy Hornblow - Kariaotahi
Andrew Cochrane - Waihi Beach
Jess Bennett - Ocean Beach Kiwi
Max Corboy - St Kilda
bp Powercraft Contribution of the Year
Natalie Wilson - United North Piha
Ray Stoddart - Opotiki/Lyall Bay
Benjamin Morgan - Waimarama
Dean Le Warne - North Beach
bp Rescue of the Year award
Bethells Beach
Whangamata
Otaki
St Kilda
Surf Sport Official of the year
The finalists are:
Michelle Newton - Red Beach
Jo Miller - Papamoa
Joss Urbahn - Foxton
Tesimale Ah Kuoi - South Brighton
Surf Sports team of the year:
Midway U19 Male Board Relay Team
Jack Lepper
Tyron Evans
Angus Blair
Waimarama U19 Female IRB Team
Tayla Hook
Tia List
New Brighton Surf Boat Crew
Caitlin Knudsen
Joanna Penrose
Grace Western
Hanna Western
Dean Isherwood
Sunset Beach Open Female IRB Team
Taylor Edwards and Abigail Chapman
Surf Coach of the Year
Tom Lowe - Mairangi Bay
Jack Gavin - Midway
Joel Meuli - East End
Dean Isherwood - New Brighton
The Surf Sports Person of the Year
Fergus Eadie - Mairangi Bay
Olivia Corrin - Midway
Joe Collins - Fitzroy
Charlotte Auburn - St Clair
Event Safety Contribution of the Year
Sam Walters - Mairangi Bay
Flynn Weatherall - Omanu
Ashleigh Hurring- Fitzroy
Paul Gager - Warrington
Junior Surf Contribution of the Year award
Damian Strickett - Bethells Beach
Edan Wilson - Waikanae
Daniel Comp - Wanganui
Julie Jorgensen - South Brighton
Instructor of the Year
Kath Manning - Waipu Cove
Gabriella Hughes - Tairua
Isaac van der Vossen - Foxton
Per Tonascia - Sumner
Examiner of the Year Award
Faron Turner - Orewa
Ella Toumadj - Whangamata
Brian Quirk - Westshore
Carla Murray - St Clair
NZ Lottery Grants Board Volunteer of the Year Award
David Galuszka - Raglan
Andrew McDowell - Pukehina
Ashleigh Hurring - Fitzroy
Linda Poulsen - Spencer Park
DHL Patrol Support of the Year
Vicki Cunningham - Orewa
Bradley Hopping - Maketu
Maiah Cudby - Foxton
Teena Joyce - Brighton
DHL Under 19 Surf Lifeguard of the Year
Olivia Moroney – Pearson - Raglan
Liam Shanahan - Mt Maunganui
Sam Salter - Palmerston North
Markus Jorgenson - South Brighton
DHL Volunteer Surf Lifeguard of the year
Kyran Gillespie - Baylys Beach
Sam Cox - Pauanui
Ethan Bryers - Wanganui
Madelene Ozanne - Warrington