Anglesea SLSC’s Matthew Taylor wins LSV Volunteer of the Year Award

ANGLESEA Surf Life Saving Club volunteer Matt Taylor is valued by his peers as ‘a club legend’ and now he has the accolade to go with it.

The 25-year club veteran was named the Graeme Long Memorial Medal winner for Life Saving Victoria volunteer of the year at the LSV awards of excellence in August, which shone a spotlight on the fantastic lifesavers who risk their lives to keep our beaches and community safe.

Matt’s extensive commitment to the club over a long period has ranged from being a board member through to being the person who empties the bins and mows the lawns.

According to club president David Marsh, Taylor’s work behind the scenes is second to none; he organises the events, manages the gear and is also ‘front of house’, making sure the club works towards its strategic goals and initiatives.

“Matt is the first person that people call on when they need help be it to fill a gap on patrol, manage an out of hours call out or to assist with the delivery of a social event at the club,” Marsh said.

“He approaches all aspect of club life with energy and dedication and does all of this while supporting his two young children as they start their own life saving careers.”

Over the past two decades Matt has taken on many roles across the club including secretary, club COVID-safe co-ordinator, patrolling member, trainer, assessor (club assessor of the year), youth coach, water safety nippers and comp team, club carnival Powercraft representative and much more.

Taylor has been a member of the Anglesea SLSC since 1983 and has held a number of formal and informal positions, most recently being presented with his 25 years of long service award from LSV, and now the volunteer of the year award.

Taylor said he was absolutely thrilled to secure the two recent honours and thanked the club for their generosity and guidance.

“The club has been fantastic for me over the journey and so has the sport of lifesaving as a whole,” Taylor said.

“Lifesaving has given me opportunities to do things I would never have had the opportunity to do and my involvement and work within the club is in part to pay back and pay forward the things that have been provided to me.

“I’ve been involved since the early ’80s and have been really lucky to be involved in every facet of the club, now leading me into the club secretary role.

“Anglesea SLSC is a great family place and a club to meet and see people of all walks of life contributing in great ways. I’m certainly privileged to be apart of it.”

Continued growth of the club as an all year-round community hub is a key area of interest for Matt.

With a largely out-of-town-based membership, the sustainability of the club necessitates that it continues to engage with a greater number of local families.

Taylor said the intention this year is to try and partner with the Anglesea Football and Netball Club to try and keep players from the organisation together during summer through their participation in the life of the surf club.

With almost all committee members at the club now residing on the Surf Coast, Taylor believes that the club will play a huge part in engaging the community for many years to come.

To join or to be apart of the Anglesea SLSC go to https://www.angleseaslsc.org.au/