By Steven McDonald, president of Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club
On Friday, 18 June 2021 Surf Life Saving Illawarra held its Awards of Excellence recognising life savers, volunteers, educators and competitors from Stanwell Park to Windang.
Our club was nominated in these categories:
Club of the Year - Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC
Ted Marshall Memorial Surf Life Saver of the Year - Ralph Hall
Patrol Captain of the Year - Steven McDonald
Patrolling Club of the Year - Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC
Volunteer of the Year - Anthony Ashley
Youth Volunteer of the Year - Lachlan McDonald
Junior Activities Volunteer of the Year - Lee
Administrator of the Year - Steven McDonald
Services Team of the Year - Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Junior Activities Committee
Innovation Award - Sea WASSPS
Assessor of the Year - Bobo White
Junior Athlete of the Year - Malea Ross
We received the following awards:
Highly Commended - Innovation Award - Sea WASSPS and Assessor of the Year - Bobo White
Winners - Youth Volunteer of the Year - Lachlan McDonald
Club of the Year - Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC
‘Club of the Year’ was a big achievement for us. The club had a number of key events during the season, including a large scale “Mock Search & Rescue Training Event”, recognising the contribution of women in surf life saving, and being a leader in UAV use for surf life saving.
Lachlan McDonald was recognised as “Youth Volunteer of the Year” for his ongoing contribution to surf life saving and Illawarra Junior Life Saver of the Year, Codie Weber, gave a tremendous speech describing her goals for her surf life saving career.
The club is in safe hands.
Sea Wolves race at Warilla Beach
For competition during the off-season, the club is racing IRBs. The Sea Wolves IRB Racing Team had one of its best weekends ever at Warilla Beach on 12-13 June. The club finished 3rd in the 35+ Tube Rescue Race with driver Anthony Ashley, Crew and Swimmer Ben Stacpoole and Patient Lachlan McDonald. On top of that the team finished with a number of other places in Rescue, Mass Rescue and Teams events. IRB racing is fast and furious, but tests and improves our life savers’ driving skills. The team is going from strength to strength, with a membership of 15. Thanks to their sponsors, Webber Carpets and the Helensburgh Hotel.
Seagall of the Year - Frankie Larkin
Nippers celebrate season’s end
At the Nippers Presentation on 5 June 2021 a new committee was elected with the current Chairperson Steve Agnew and Junior Secretary Therese Weber stepping down after a number of successful seasons. The club presented awards to the Pointscore winners from U8 through to U14, as well as awarding trophies to Nippers who excelled.
Congratulations to Frankie Larkin, our “Seagall of the Year”, and Noah Papendreas, our “Seagull of the Year”. Other award winners include,
The McDonald Family Illawarra Jnr Lifesaver of the Year - Codie Weber
Ryman Family Beach Encouragement Trophy - Girls: Amelia Havea, Boys: Lincoln Mingare
M & R Gavel Junior Board Encouragement Trophy & HSPSLSC Junior - Girls Board Encouragement Trophy - Sienna Giusti,
Mr Little Best Junior Boy at Carnivals Trophy & The Jim Teudt Best Junior Girl at Carnival Trophy - Nate Heffernan & Halle Bostik
The McGraw Boys Surf Encouragement Trophy - Will Papendreas
The Howard Harris Girls Surf Encouragement Trophy - Sophia Mander
Leisure Coast Trophies Best Senior Boy at Carnivals - Ben Agnew
HSPSLSC Best Senior Girl at Carnivals - Malea Ross
The Frank Little Award for Water at Carnivals - Hobie Smit
The JM Powell Most Improved Carnival Competitor - Frankie Larkin
The Stephen “Starka” Clarke Memorial Award for Water Consistency - Amelia Roche
The Jack Higgins Girls Endeavour Award - Malea Ross, Brianna Taunton & Codie Weber
The Neil Langdon Boys - Endeavour Award - Kade Taunton
The Thompson Family Most Consistent Senior Water Competitor at Carnivals - Darcy Weber
Keith Mills Seagall of the Year - Frankie Larkin
Jack “Daki” Mawson Seagull of the Year - Noah Papendreas.
