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Tonight Surf Life Saving New Zealand celebrated the outstanding
commitment and heroic actions of its most elite lifeguards by
announcing the winners of this year's Awards of Excellence at a
black tie event.
"It takes a lot of commitment to be a lifeguard and the awards
presented this evening are proof of that" said Surf Life
Saving New Zealand Chairman Michael Bassett-Foss.
Mr Bassett-Foss said in the last year Surf Life Saving New Zealand
members has saved over 1000 lives, contributed over 200,000
volunteer hours patrolling beaches, and delivered beach safety
education to over 25,000 kids. "These actions are the expression of
our values, and it's the best of those values we celebrate with our
Awards."
The three big awards are; NZ Lottery Grants Board Lifeguard of the
Year, DHL Volunteer of the Year and the BP Surf Rescue of the
Year.
Lifeguard of the Year award went to Gary Hinds from Hot Water
Beach. This prestigious award highlights the skill, experience and
dedication Gary has given to making his local beach safer.
Finalists for this award included Ben Flynn from Paekakariki and
Lauren Gibbs from Bethells Beach.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand CEO Paul Dalton says Mr Hinds
personifies being "In it for Life."
"Lifeguards give up countless hours to reach this level of
nomination and Gary truly deserved this recognition tonight," he
says.
DHL Volunteer of the Year was awarded to St Clair Surf Life Saving
Club chairman Antony Mason who embodies everything it takes to be
an exemplary volunteer- commitment, passion and unswerving
dedication to Surf Life Saving.
On top of a huge workload ranging from raising sponsorship and
managing accounts to washing the club patrol kit every week and
being the club bus driver, he puts in many hours of patrols on his
home beach St Clair.
Clubs across the country enter their most prominent rescues and
they are judged against each other for BP Surf Rescue of the
Year.
A group rescue effort by the Regional Lifeguards at Piha who
prevented certain, if not multiple drownings, was named this year's
winner. Early in February, with the surf at Piha being 1.5 meters
in height and very rough, four individuals waded deep into the
water and stepped off into a hole, getting caught in the current.
Together the lifeguards managed to reach all the men, one of whom
was completely submersed underwater, had drifted in and out of
consciousness and required emergency treatment back on
shore.
Also awarded tonight were the BP Media Awards for best surf
lifesaving story and best photo.
Photo of the Year was awarded to Waikato Times photographer Peter
Drury for his image of a team of young lifeguards returning from
hours on the water searching for missing fisherman. The picture was
selected because of the context and the bigger story that sits
behind it. It is an image of lifeguards in action and portrays the
hours volunteers commit. It's not always exciting but it's always
important.
TVNZ reporter Gill Higgins won Media Story of the Year for her
documentary Trusting Teenagers With Our Lives. It tells of how, at
one beach in the space of just one week, there were four drownings.
That number would have been a lot higher if it wasn't for the
lifeguards that patrol our beaches. Teenagers make up a large
number of the surf lifesaving patrols around the country and it is
with determination and bravery that they go about their jobs.
Trusting Teenagers With Our Lives aired on TVNZ's Close Up on
December 1 last year.
Special recognition was also given to Carol Quirk who was awarded
the Queens Service Medal for services to Surf Life Saving, Pat
Waite who was awarded the Queens Service Medal for services to the
community, John Thomas who has been made a Member of the NZ Order
of Merit for his work with Surf Life Saving and Brian Velvin who
has been made a Grand Knight by the International Life Saving
Federation.
Award category winners:
- BP Media - Best Story of the Year: Gill Higgins, for her
documentary Trusting Teenagers with our Lives.
- BP Media - Picture of the Year: Peter Drury, Waikato Times
- BP Surf Rescue of the Year: Regional Lifeguards - Piha: Logan
Adams, Kris O'Neill, Duncan Buchanan, Tommy Cantrell, Sam Bassett,
Aaron Young, Anaru Clarke, Tom Jacka and Sam Jenkins
- DHL Volunteer of the Year: Antony Mason, St Clair Surf Life
Saving Club
- NZLGB Lifeguard of the Year: Gary Hinds, Hot Water Beach Surf
Life Saving Club
Special recognition:
- Carol Quirk who was awarded the Queens Service Medal for
services to Surf Life Saving
- Pat Waite who was awarded the Queens Service Medal for services
to the community
- John Thomas who has been made a Member of the NZ Order of Merit
for his work with Surf Life Saving
- Brian Velvin who has been made Grand Knight by the
International Life Saving Federation
NZLGB Lifeguard of the Year 2012 finalists/ Lauren Gibbs
(Bethells Beach), Gary Hinds (Hot Water Beach) (winner) and Ben
Flynn (Paekakariki SL), Photo: Stephen A'Court
BP Surf Rescue of the Year 2012. Left to right: Logan Adams, Matt
Elliot (Managing Director BP NZ Ltd), Sam Bassett, Kris O'Neill,
Duncan Buchanan. Regional Lifeguard Service, Piha Patrol.
Photo: Stephen A'Court
DHL Volunteer of the Year 2012.
Antony Mason (St Clair Surf Life Saving Club) and Tim Baxter,
Country Manager, DHL-NZ.
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