Otago and Southland lifeguard award finalists announced

May 15, 2018

Otago-Southland is the next region to announce their finalists for their Awards of Excellence, where lifeguards from throughout the region are celebrated for their valuable contribution and efforts in helping the public throughout the year.

Every year, regional Awards of Excellence ceremonies are held around the country to officially recognise Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) members for their hard work and dedication to surf lifesaving in New Zealand.

The Otago-Southland Awards of Excellence will be held at the Mornington Tavern in Dunedin on Friday May 25th and include lifeguards and members from the southernmost club at Oreti, to Warrington north of Dunedin.

The winners of each category from the Otago-Southland awards, then automatically become finalists in the national SLSNZ Awards of Excellence, held in September, where national award winners are announced.

Stu Bryce, Surf Life Saving New Zealand Southern Region Manager says the awards are an important way to end a busy season and recognise the contribution lifeguards make to the community.

“The Awards of Excellence are a great opportunity to congratulate and celebrate the time and energy that our members have given over the 2017-18 patrol season,” he says.

“It was hard to select these finalists as all of the lifeguards throughout Otago and Southland are fantastic. However the finalists in these awards all deserve to be recognised and celebrated for their exceptional efforts throughout the year,” Mr Bryce added.

Otago-Southland Awards of Excellence finalists:

2018 Otago-Southland – Lifeguard of the Year:

Peter Gibbons, St Kilda

Chris Haig, St Clair

Kayle Harris, Warrington

Tayla Pohe, Brighton

Kelsey Lewis, Oreti

2018 Otago-Southland – Instructor/ Examiner of the Year:

Chris Haig, St Clair

Rachel Oakley, St Kilda

Shana Pohe, Brighton

Samantha Nielsen, Oreti

2018 Otago-Southland – Volunteer of the Year:

Nathan Laws, Warrington

Nic Brice, St Kilda

Sarah Ball, Oreti

Chris Haig, St Clair

Isaac Davies, St Clair

Mark Lane, Brighton

2018 Otago-Southland – Innovation of the Year:

Cameron Burrow, Peter Gibbons, James Coombes, Tomahawk Patrols

Cameron Third, Costal Classic

2018 Otago-Southland – Regional Lifeguard of the Year:

Blake Porteous

Mikayla Garforth

Charlotte Becconsall-Ryan

2018 Otago-Southland – Rescue of the Year:

SAR Call Out Team, Taieri Plains

Kaka Point

2018 Otago-Southland – Surf Official of the Year:

Michael Andrew, St Clair

Michael Trembath, St Clair

David Borke, St Kilda

Sean Doyle, Warrington

2018 Otago-Southland – Coach of the Year:

Isaac Davies, St Clair

Michael Coutts, St Clair

Chris Haig, St Clair

Kate Harrington, Oreti

Dave McPhee, Brighton

2018 Otago-Southland – Event Guard of the Year:

Jackson Aluesi, St Clair

Duncan New, St Kilda

2018 Otago-Southland – Sportsperson of the Year:

Phoebe Aburn, Brighton

Jeremy Kidd, Oreti

Carina Doyle, St Clair

Erika Fairweather, St Clair

Georgia Rathbone, St Clair

2018 Otago-Southland – Sports Team of the Year:

Masters Men’s Canoe Crew, Warrington

U19 Men’s IRB Crew, St Kilda

U20 Women’s IRB Crew, St Clair

U19 Women’s Surf Canoe Crew, Oreti

U19 Women’s Team, Brighton

Ends

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