On Friday, June 16, the Surf Life Saving Illawarra Awards of Excellence recognised the dedication of the region’s surf lifesavers after a huge season in which volunteers put in 47,632 patrol hours, performed 7664 preventative actions, 314 first aid treatments and 404 surf rescues.

More than 170 lifesavers from the 17 Illawarra clubs attended the evening ceremony to watch as many of their own were honoured for their role in keeping our beaches safe.

Surf Life Saving Illawarra media advisor Anthony Turner said the awards night was a chance to honour the Surf Life Saving community.

“It's where individuals and clubs showcase what they've individually contributed, and clubs [as] a whole, what they've provided to the community,” he said.

As volunteers progress from Nippers to surf sports to lifesaving and member services, Anthony said clubs are like "a big family, extended family" where members train together, patrol together and watch each other’s backs. 

“It's just great what clubs and individuals can contribute to the community … just to keep our coastal waterways as safe as possible to visitors and to the local community, and these nights just showcase how much clubs and individuals provide a valuable service to their community.”

Taking home one of the night’s highest honours was Bulli Surf Life Saving Club, which won the Club of the Year award for the second consecutive year.

“To be named again, two years in a row, as the top Surf Life Saving Club in the Illawarra is a real honour,” Bulli Surf Life Saving Club president Jamie Caldwell said. 

"Our whole membership base, together with our management and executive committees, work really hard to ensure each main portfolio and supporting portfolios of the club are as effective and efficient as possible, that we are providing not only our membership base with multiple opportunities to develop and shine, but also provide products and services to our community.

“Bulli SLSC has been one of the most constantly strong and high performing Surf Life Saving Clubs in Australia for at least 35-plus years now, which is a testament to not only our members and leadership but the frameworks and governance we continuously improve on at any opportunity we get across all portfolios.”

Excelling across the board, Bulli also claimed Youth Athlete of the Year with Chelsea Jones, Athlete of the Year with Jasmine Locke, Junior Activities Volunteer of the Year with Kate Morris, Surf Sports Team of the Year and Surf Sports Club of the Year.

“For the Open Men’s Surf Boat Crew to be recognised once as again as the Surf Life Saving Illawarra Team of the Year, it caps off a massive year in which they took out the Australian Surf Rowers League Open on their home beach and also the gold medal at the Surf Life Saving Australian Titles held in Perth,” Jamie said.

“We look forward to now, not only as a club, but a number of our individual award winners at the Illawarra level now proceed on to the Surf Life Saving NSW Awards of Excellence in Sydney in late August. Hopefully we can take a number of NSW awards.”

Small clubs, big wins

With just 36 patrolling members, Bellambi Surf Life Saving Club was punching well above its weight, receiving the Patrolling Club of the Year and Services Team of the Year awards. Club members Brody Robertson, Halle Bone and Jackie Percy also walked away with Youth Lifesaver of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year and Trainer of the Year respectively, leaving Club Captain Rob Gorkin – highly commended for Support Operations Manager of the Year – amazed by the enormous successes of the small club.

“We're stoked, we cleaned up, and for being such a small club, it really does say something about our efforts… there's only a few of us there, but there's a lot of people that made that happen,” Rob said.

“We patrolled over 2600 hours – that is huge – and our average member had nearly 80 hours, so you talk about commitment; we had people that were there on the beach at all times, we covered our beach and then some. So to be a small club putting in that many hours, and for the individuals to do that, it's just a testament of their commitment, their resilience.

“[Brody, Halle and Jackie] exude the qualities of surf lifesaving and where the organisation should go. These are the next generation leaders in the space and hopefully they will serve as models for others – to see that happen and to see that a couple of them coming from our club, as Club Captain, I'm super proud.”

Another small club doing big things was Scarborough Wombarra Surf Life Saving Club.  President Ant Ritter won the Administrator of the Year award while Rachelle Balez took home the Patrol Captain of the Year award for leading the club’s first all-women patrol this season. Scarborough Wombarra SLSC won the first Most Improved Club of the Year award and was awarded Innovation of the Year for January’s Patrol Iron Person Relay, which involved all eight patrol groups competing over swim, board and run events.

Though Ant said being recognised as the Illawarra’s Most Improved Club was arguably the most satisfying win of the evening – as it acknowledges improvements in all facets of surf lifesaving – the recognition of individual achievements was also rewarding.

“It was great to win [the Administrator of the Year] award – I see first-hand that so many people do so much at our club and at all surf lifesaving clubs throughout the Illawarra. I enjoy doing my bit for our club and our area, and getting this award means a lot to me,” Ant said.

“Rachelle got her Bronze Medallion with our club 21 years ago and she still remains passionate about our little club, our community and in the next generation of surf lifesavers, particularly female lifesavers.

“Every club has members like this, we’re just lucky we’ve got Rachelle, and we are really pleased she was formally recognised with the award.”

“It’s been a privilege to captain the first all-female patrol at Scarborough Wombarra SLSC the last couple of years,” Rachelle Balez said.

“The girls I get to share my patrol with are all legends who work hard to make their community a better place – this award is for them.”

Surf Life Saving Illawarra’s Anthony Turner said all 17 clubs, award nominees and winners are to be congratulated for their efforts over the 2022-2023 patrol season.

“They’re definitely clubs that are being watched and the community are very thankful for your service,” he said.

A full list of Surf Life Saving Illawarra Awards of Excellence nominees and winners can be found at the SLSI Facebook page.