Anglesea SLSC in the running for multiple LSV Awards

A LOCAL life saving club is getting recognition for the work it’s done in the past year after receiving numerous nominations for this year’s Life Saving Victoria (LSV) Awards of Excellence.

The Anglesea Life Saving Club is up for numerous categories in this year’s awards including Volunteer of the Year, Achievement of the Year and the highly coveted LSV Club of the Year.

General manager of Anglesea SLSC Jennifer McIntyre could not be happier, given the trying times that they and other clubs have gone through amidst the pandemic.

“We are super proud to be nominated for Club of the Year in particular,” Ms McIntyre said.

“To be recognised for what we have done and what we continue to try and do makes it a really proud moment for everyone involved, especially during a year where we were building a clubhouse.”

Anglesea Life Saving Club began construction on its new home back in June 2019, which continued throughout the pandemic.

The club moved into the new clubhouse in December of 2020, capping off a major effort by the organisation.

“We’ve tried really hard to get the local community more engaged with the surf club,” Ms McIntyre said.

“We have run a local nipper program called ‘3230 Nippers’ with more than 80 families involved, which is pretty much the entire primary school, and they do lifesaving once a week in terms two and four.”

Long-time resident of Anglesea and teacher in Geelong, Matthew Taylor, is up for the Graeme Long Memorial Medal Volunteer of the Year Award.

Regarded as a familiar face at the club, Mr Taylor does virtually everything according to Ms McIntyre.

His resume includes being a nipper dad, water safety teacher, coach, official, secretary of the club, board member and also one of the COVID-19 coordinators.

“I am very humbled and honoured to be nominated,” Mr Taylor said.

“I joined the club and do what I do because I enjoy it and I see great benefit, and I have had great role models to show me the way over the journey.

“So, to think that people appreciate what I am doing to the point of being able to put me forward, is very gratifying.”

The award winners will be announced on the evening of August 7.