Dedicated volunteer Surf Lifeguards, officials, instructors, coaches and athletes from across the country have been
recognised and celebrated today at the 2020 Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) National Awards of Excellence.
Whangamata SLSC Club Captain, Max Jones, takes home the NZ Lottery Grants Board Lifeguard of the Year Award this year. Jones has contributed 80 hours of patrolling as a volunteer and has been involved in more than 30 rescues,
including three search and rescue operations.Max Jones (Whangamata SLSC), NZ Lottery Grants Board Lifeguard of the Year
The 2020 bp Rescue of the Year Award goes to the SL Kariaotahi Emergency Call Out Squad. This outstanding team of Surf Lifeguards saved three people,
including a young child, from a stricken boat on the evening of May 25th, 2019. Without the squad’s skill and fast,
efficient pick-up under difficult conditions, it’s almost certain that three lives would have been lost that night.SL Kariaotahi Emergency Call Out Squad, winner of bp Rescue of the Year Award
Taylors Mistake SLSC member Mike Smith is the 2020 DHL Volunteer of the Year. Smith’s contribution to surf lifesaving is difficult to summarise as he’s active at a club, regional and national
level. He’s been on the Taylors Mistake committee for 15 years and is the club’s Vice President, and for the past two
seasons he's been the club’s Health & Safety Officer. Mike’s influence within surf can be seen from the junior to senior levels, and from club through to
national.Mike Smith (Taylors Mistake SLSC), DHL Volunteer of the Year
Ian Robinson QSM of Waihi Beach LS has become a Life Member in honour of his 67 years’ as a dedicated and highly active member. Robinson joined Waihi Beach LS in 1957 and received
a Queens Service Medal in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for ‘Services to Surf Life Saving and the community’.
To view the digital flip book with the full list of awards and recipients (including citations), please visit the SLSNZ website from 6:45pm Sat September 19.
SLSNZ Chief Executive, Paul Dalton, says the charity’s volunteer Surf Lifeguards saved 577 lives and assisted 1,543
people to safety in the 2019/20 season, despite the fact that the season was cut short by Covid-19 lockdown.
“The National Awards of Excellence are an opportunity for us to acknowledge the incredible dedication and skill that our
volunteers put into making sure Kiwis make it home safe after a day at the beach. This is a chance for us to say ‘thank
you’ and to honour some of the outstanding New Zealanders, from all walks of life, who patrol our beaches and
coastlines.”
The SLSNZ Awards of Excellence are held every year in each SLSNZ region to acknowledge 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.
The regional awards then culminate in the National Awards of Excellence, which were held online this year due to
Covid-19 restrictions.National Awards of Excellence 2020 WinnersSURF LIFESAVING AWARDSNZ Lottery Grants Board Lifeguard of the Year AwardMax Jones, Whangamata SLSCGudsell TrophyRed Beach SLSCLondon TrophyNelson SLSCMEDIA & RESCUE AWARDSbp Media AwardSeven Sharp & Lucas de Jong: Excellence in Public Education on How to Survive a Rip Currentbp Rescue of the Year AwardSLS Kariaotahi Emergency Call Out SquadSURF SPORTS AWARDSSurf Official of the YearGreg Rieger, Mt Maunganui LSCoach of the YearDion Williams, Wainui SLSCInternational Sport Performance of the YearDanielle McKenzie, Mairangi Bay SLSCSERVICE AWARDSBrighton SLSC: Alex SutherlandKariaotahi: Bradley Walters, Dean Lawrence & Tara CoeLyall Bay SLSC: Matt FlanneryMairangi Bay SLSC: Danny Morrison & Tony SandsNelson SLSC: Aaron Lyttle, Noah Hosie & Stuart EdensOmanu Beach SLSC: Donal BoyleOnemana SLSC: Kevin ThorburnOrewa SLSC: Steve FranichOtaki SLSC: Justine Fleming & Kirsty DoylePaekakariki SL: Amy Spiekerman, David Jones, Dwight Garton & Natasha PerkinsRarangi SLSC: Brendon Ferguson & Neil WattsRed Beach SLSC: Debra Cairns, Dylan Turner & Robyn PreslandSt Clair SLSC: Chris HaigSteph Laughton - St Clair SLSCSt Kilda SLSC: Cam Third & Max CorboyTaylors Mistake SLSC: Craig Jamieson & Patrice de BeerWaihi Beach LS: David Grant, David Litton & James LloydWaimairi SLSC: Mike LittenWainui SLSC: Belinda Slement & Jeremy LockwoodWanganui SLS: James NewellWestshore SLSC: Kevin, Taylor Dick & Trina Wills50 YEAR BADGESPacific SLSC: Denys Carpenter (also a member at Paekakariki SL)Paekakariki SL: Denys Carpenter (also a member at Pacific SLSC) & Ross HarveyPiha SLSC: David Anderson, David Bradley, Gary Bray, George Thompson, Graham Mauger, John Dallimore, Malcolm McClurg,
Mike Wood, Nick Kinghorn, Owen Sharpe, Robert Collis, Tony Johnston & Warren SmithRed Beach SLSC: Graeme DanksWaimarama SLSC: Graeme WardDISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDSBen Flynn, Paekakariki SLSCGraeme Ward, Waimarama SLSCMike Smith, Taylors Mistake SLSCLIFE MEMBERSHIPIan Robinson QSM, Waihi Beach LSINSTRUCTOR & VOLUNTEER AWARDSInstructor of the YearSonia Keepa, Wainui SLSCVolunteer of the YearMike Smith, Taylors Mistake SLSCInnovation of the YearSLS Kariaotahi