Australian surf lifesaver achievements recognised at Surf Life Saving Australia awards

Australia’s top surf lifesavers were recognised for their achievements and contributions at the Surf Life Saving Australia National Awards of Excellence last week.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, SLSA members came together online for the 2020 event to present 13 awards across the lifesaving, sport and education categories for their outstanding service to their communities.

Neil John from North Queensland’s Sarina SLSC took out the prestigious DHL Surf Lifesaver of the Year for his outstanding leadership as both Club Captain and President, and hard work to boost member engagement at his club. Fellow Queenslander Belinda Doman was awarded DHL Volunteer of the Year, with Tasmania’s Penguin SLSC named as DHL Club of the Year.

After a breakout season claiming her maiden Coolangatta Gold title and 2019-20 Nutri-Grain IronWoman Series crown, Noosa Heads’ Lana Rogers took out Surf Sports Athlete of the Year.

SLSA also inducted three new members to the Hall of Fame, former Ironman champion Darren Mercer (Noosa Heads SLSC), International Lifesaving President Graham Ford AM (Bronte SLSC) and former beach sprint champion Elly Miller (Elouera SLSC).

Surf Life Saving Australia Chief Executive Adam Weir advised “each year our members give up more than one million hours of their time to keep our beaches safe, and the Awards of Excellence allows us to recognise our members for their commitment to their communities, and dedication to ensuring we keep our coastlines safe.

“We know the contribution our surf lifesaving community makes to Australia is significant, with the recent Deloitte Economic Impact Report valuing services provided by our members at $6.5 billion per year.

“Our organisation has grown to be more than just the lifesaving services people see on our beaches – we provide education and training to everyday Australians, help keep people physically active, encourage and promote volunteerism and deliver real social value to local communities across the country. 

“Our members’ contributions extend beyond the beach, and in a year that has presented many challenges it has been inspiring to see our members remain dedicated in the pursuit of safety in their communities. From bushfires to floods, our clubs have gone above and beyond to help their local areas and keep people safe.

Weir added “On behalf of Surf Life Saving I wish to congratulate all our Award winners as well as the finalists from across the country.”

For details on individual award winners go to Surf Life Saving Australia