Media Release
16 July 2018

Broad spread of winners at Northern Region surf awards

Over 50 members from 11 surf clubs have won awards at the annual Toyota Financial Services Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR) Awards of Excellence held last Saturday (14 July).

Thirty-six awards covering the lifesaving, surf sport and volunteer branches of surf lifesaving for clubs between Raglan up the West Coast to Cape Reinga and down the east coast to the Auckland City beaches were presented at the Awards, held at The Cordis Hotel in Auckland.

Reflecting on this year’s Award winners and recipients, SLSNR Chief Executive Officer Matt Williams paid tribute to all those involved with lifesaving in the Region. “The Awards evening is a celebration of excellence in many areas and a chance to enjoy the company of fellow lifeguards, officials and administrators across all our clubs.

“But it also reflects a huge amount of work and dedication that went into saving lives over the summer – one of our busiest ever. For that I thank all those involved in the movement.”

Distinguished Service Awards were given to 10 club members: Craig Dillon, Vaughan Skiffington and Mark Readman (Red Beach), Dave Ross (Far North Surf Rescue), Jason Pocock and Travis Mitchell (Mairangi Bay), Joanne Hobson (Sunset Beach), Mark Johnston (Orewa), Mason Dray-Hogg (Bethells Beach) and Rick Stolwerk (Waipu Cove).

Service Awards were given to Angela Stolwerk (Waipu), Debra Cairns and Dylan Turner (Red Beach), Jim West, Karen Campbell and Nicole Fearon (Mairangi Bay), Steve Franich (Orewa), Susan Pirret (Sunset Beach), Nick Devcich (Bethells Beach), Damian Molloy and Dirk van der Woerd (Muriwai).

The premier award for Club of the Year went to Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service at Port Waikato, which was also adjudged to have the Best Patrolled Beach of last season.

Jess Reilly, a medical student from the Raglan Club, took out the Surf Lifeguard of the Year for her work as the club’s Lifesaving Convenor, Development Manager and Chief Instructor and running training courses for club members.

Reilly was also the club’s Head Lifeguard and a Patrol Captain and spent nearly 140 voluntary hours on beach patrol on top of seven weeks as a paid Patrol Captain through the height of summer.

Lifeguards from four clubs – Dave Ross and Thom Anderson (Far North), Jacob Rennie (Mairangi Bay), Mark Gordon (United North Piha) and Connor Mackereth, Kyran Gillespie (Ruakaka) combined to win the Rescue of the Year award for recovering the body of a missing diver in chilly water conditions near Cape Reinga last September.

Police had requested assistance from the Far North club and it quickly became apparent that more lifeguards with the skill, experience and resources were required.

The group used their Co-ordinated Incident Management System training to set up a communication structure with the Police. The deceased diver was recovered with cultural sensitivity and returned to his family. The Police commended the club and the region on the professionalism of the six surf club members involved.

Orewa Club President John Chapman took away the Volunteer of the Year award with a wide variety of involvement in lifesaving, serving on two club committees, and being involved in all major club events. He was also a member of the region’s Board of Directors and an arena referee at regional and national surf sport events.

The revitalisation of the Safeswim water quality programme by Auckland Council, Watercare and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service won the Innovation of the Year award. The system now provides water quality and beach safety information simultaneously at www.safeswim.org.nz

It includes all Surf Lifesaving Northern Region patrolled beaches and another 60 beaches across the Auckland region. Apart from water quality, information on dangerous beach conditions, large surf or shark sightings is available on the website.

Beach lifeguards have been at the forefront of the project, providing the information for the website and communicating with the public around the risks.

Ends

A FULL LIST OF THE WINNERS FOLLOWS

2018 TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE – WINNERS

Sports Awards
• Under-14 Sportswoman of the Year: Zoe Crawford (Mairangi Bay).
• Under-14 Sportsman of the Year: Kailen Brackebush (Orewa).
• Outstanding contribution to Junior Surf: Mike Brown (Mairangi Bay).
• Under-16 Sportswoman of the Year: Andie Quirke (Piha).
• Under-16 Sportsman of the Year: Patrick Makgill (Red Beach).
• Under-19 Sportswoman of the Year: Lucy Makaea (Piha).
• Under-19 Sportsman of the Year: Oscar Williams (Piha).
• Developing Surf Official of the Year: Brenda Larsen (Orewa).
• Surf Official of the Year: Michelle Newton (Red Beach).
• Surf Coach of the Year: Mark McCarthny (Orewa).
• Competition Team of the Year: Red Beach Under-16 men’s pool rescue relay.
• Open Sportswoman of the Year: Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay).
• Open Sportsman of the Year: Michael Lee (Mairangi Bay).
• Other sports trophies:
o Cath & Eddie Millar Cup - Orewa
o Junior Surf Championships – Red Beach
o Regional Pool Championships - Piha
o Regional IRB Championships – Sunset Beach
o Northern Region Championships - Red Beach
o Junior Competition Club of the Year – Red Beach and Orewa
o Masters Competition Club of the Year – Red Beach and Orewa
o Senior Competition Club of the Year – Red Beach, Mairangi Bay and Orewa

Lifesaving Awards
• Instructor of the Year: Wade Downey (Red Beach).
• Examiner of the Year: Faron Turner (Orewa).
• Outstanding Contribution to Powercraft: Shane Edwards (Sunset Beach).
• Rookie Lifeguard of the Year: Emily Stolwerk (Waipu Cove.
• Under-19 Surf Lifeguard of the Year: Maia Barbuzza (Raglan).
• Paid Lifeguard of the Year: Luke Stockman (Muriwai).
• Surf Lifeguard of the Year: Jess Reilly (Raglan).

Regional and other Awards
• Volunteer of the Year: John Chapman (Orewa).
• Club Administrator of the Year: Elle Scheepens (Bethells Beach).
• Outstanding Contribution to Support Services: Johnny Clough (United North Piha).
• Community Educator of the Year: Nick Tomkins (Orewa).
• CSE-Genesis Innovation of the Year: Safeswim.
• Rescue of the Year: Far North Surf Rescue.
• Best Patrolled Beach: Sunset Beach
• Club of the Year: to be announced on the night only

Service and Distinguished Service Awards

Service
• Angela Stolwerk/Waipu
• Debra Cairns/Red Beach
• Dylan Turner/Red Beach
• Jim West/Mairangi Bay
• Karen Campbell/Mairangi Bay
• Nicole Fearon/Mairangi Bay
• Steve Franich/Orewa
• Susan Pirret/Sunset Beach
• Nick Devcich/Bethells
• Damian Molloy/Muriwai
• Dirk van der Woerd/Muriwai

Distinguished Service
• Craig Dillon/Red Beach
• Dave Ross/Far North
• Jason Pocock/Mairangi Bay
• Joanne Hobson/Sunset Beach
• Mark Johnston/Orewa
• Mason Dray-Hogg/Bethells
• Rick Stolwerk/Waipu Cove
• Travis Mitchell/Mairangi Bay
• Vaughan Skiffington/Red Beach
• Mark Readman/Red Beach

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