Surf Coast lifesavers feature heavily at Awards of Excellence

LIFESAVERS and clubs on the Surf Coast received many of the major awards at Life Saving Victoria’s annual Awards of Excellence.

The event, held at Albert Park, was attended by more than 400 dignitaries and lifesavers on Saturday July 27.

Lorne Surf Life Saving Club featured prominently during the night.

They won Outstanding Achievement of the Year for conducting its first Indigenous program, which hosted 10 students and two teachers from West Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

Lorne’s John Takac also received the Graeme Long Memorial Medal for Holden Volunteer of the Year for both his roles as chief lifeguard for the Surf Coast and director of the Pier to Pub race.

Takac also received a Life Saving Victoria Life Membership, the highest recognition awarded to life savers at state level.

Lorne Surf Life Saving Club also saw chief instructor Jessica Sincock awarded Volunteer Trainer of the Year.

Elsewhere on the Surf Coast and Bellarine, Jessica Robinson from Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club was named Westpac Youth Lifesaver of the Year, while Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club’s Samuel Dripps was the joint winner of the Mike Martin AM Champion Junior Lifesaver award.

Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club’s Janet Jones received a Membership and Leadership Development Service Award for her role developing lifesaving skills for youth members with disabilities in the Starfish Nipper program.

Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club also featured, with Laura Buckley earning Volunteer Assessor of the Year.

Grace Lightfoot was awarded Beach Lifeguard of the Year for her contributions to ensuring the safety of beaches on the Surf Coast and the Otway.

On the competitive sports front, Ocean Grove Lifesaving Club was the overall point score winner of the Victorian Lifesaving Championships.

Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club’s Naantali Marshall won Athlete of the Year having won multiple gold medals at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships and been similarly successful in Victoria open swims.

For the full list of Awards of Excellence winners visit bit.ly/2YwTzL5.