VOLUNTEERS HONOURED AT NSW WATER SAFETY AND AUSTSWIM EXCELLENCE AWARDS NIGHT
Over 190 members of the aquatic industry gathered with colleagues, friends and family at Le Montage Events Centre, Lilyfield to recognise individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution to water safety and education in NSW.
The evening celebrated the 2013 NSW Water Safety Awards to recognise individuals and organisations that have assisted to improve water safety or have helped reduce drowning and water related injuries in their community within NSW.
The AUSTSWIM Awards of Excellence recognised the brilliance, commitment and innovation in the teaching of swimming and water safety, covering aspects such as teacher effectiveness, contribution to developing peers and commitment to quality teacher training.
Sydney’s Roz Hughes who has held a voluntary position on the AUSTSWIM NSW State Advisory Council for a number of years was presented with the AUSTSWIM Most Outstanding Contribution Award.
AUSTSTWIM Chairman John Rigby paid tribute to Roz for her tireless dedication to the organisation.
“Roz always puts her hand up and has been willing to sacrifice her personal time to be of any assistance to the AUSTSWIM NSW Business Centre including helping out at our annual regional and metropolitan SplashOut conferences,” Mr Rigby said.
“She has been involved with a lot of the major decisions involving AUSTSWIM, both at a State and National level, and has been a key driving force in a number of projects.
“Most recently she was part of the AUSTSWIM Recognised Swim School Review and is also part of the AUSTSWIM standards committee.
“Roz is a deserving winner of the 2013 Most Outstanding Contribution to AUSTSWIM Award.”
Amongst a host of worthy award winners and recipients in the Water Safety Awards were a dedicated NSW Country volunteer Surf Life Saver; the Hunter Branch of Surf Lifesaving in Newcastle; and Surf Life Saving NSW.
Ryan Rosenbaum, the recently crowned 2013 NSW Life Saver of the Year was presented with the prestigious individual Water Safety award of the night for “Most Significant Contribution to Water Safety By An Individual.”
Hunter Branch was presented with the “Most Significant Contribution to Water Safety by an Organisation” and their State parent organisation, Surf Life Saving NSW won the award for Research Project of the Year for its “Project Blueprint.”
Founded in 1971 Ryan Rosenbaum’s modest young surf club, Tacking Point is a popular surfing and swimming beach at Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast but is an exposed and potentially hazardous rip-dominated beach.
Volunteers like Patrol Captain Rosenbaum provide locals and holidaymakers alike with the best possible service - a lifesaver of some 21 years who has a passion for educating not only life savers but also his wider community.
Ryan completed over 100 patrol hours plus an additional 200 hours as the Rescue Watercraft operator and Mid North Coast SLSA Branch duty officer through the busy 2012-13 season.
His citation read: “Ryan is an inspiring leader and active facilitator…who dedicated his time to emergency services and emergency management and he attended more than 25 after hours call-outs…dealing with two fatalities, one successful resuscitation and a three day search and rescue operation for a missing yachtsman.”
The Hunter Branch of the NSW SLSA was formed in 1918 and now consists of 13 clubs and administers over 7,500 members.
Their community education programs are booked out 12 months in advance; with over 10,000 school students participating every year.
This past season they saved 179 lives, 14,794 preventative actions were performed and 67,694 volunteer patrol hours were logged.
Throughout the 2012-2013 season Hunter lifesavers displayed outstanding initiative, open communication and impressive teamwork whilst instilling best practice principles across all clubs within the branch.
The concerted effort by all of its clubs has been rewarded by all 13 clubs achieving Bronze Level Status in the Quality Clubs program this year- something that has never been achieved before across the country.
Meanwhile the research carried out by “Project Blueprint” in 2012-13 included over 370 km of coastline which is made up of 270 individual sites, consisting of 186 beaches and 96 rocky coasts locations.
It identified hazards and the associated risks of the coastal environment including but not limited to signage, car parks, access tracks, service provision, geological hazards, user groups, conflicting activities and usage.
“The results will be fundamental in “the right solutions, implemented at the right locations, at the right time, targeting the right people” and will largely assist in addressing the coastal drowning issue is NSW.
TV Presenter Tim Gilbert was on hand as Master of Ceremonies and with his relaxed manner he certainly provided all those in attendance with a lot of laughs.
AUSTSWIM welcomed a number of special guests including:
Mr John Sidoti – Member for Drummoyne
Paul Doorn – Executive Director, Office of Communities Sport and Recreation
John Egan – Director Partnerships and Policy, Office of Communities Sport and Recreation
Gordon Mallett – AUSTSWIM CEO
John Rigby – AUSTSWIM Chairman
Members of the AUSTSWIM NSW State Advisory Committee
Members of the NSW Water Safety Advisory Council
Here is a full list of the 2013 NSW Water Safety Award winners:
Community Education Program of the Year : “Surfers Rescue 24/7” - Surfing NSW
Local Community Initiative: “SAVE LIFE” - Fairfield City Leisure Centres
Research Project of the Year: “Project Blueprint” - Surf Life Saving NSW
Most significant contribution to water safety with a focus on an under-represented group: Rainbow Club Australia
Most Significant Contribution to Water Safety by an Individual: Ryan Rosenbaum
Most Significant Contribution to Water Safety by an Organisation: Hunter Surf Life Saving
Unfortunately there could only be one winner in each category and a special congratulations goes out to the following AUSTSWIM Award Winners.
AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety Award: Robyn Bayliss
AUSTSWIM Teacher of Infant and Preschool Aquatics Award: Jeremy Whitehurst
AUSTSWIM Teacher of Aquatics to People with a Disability: Jason Smylie
AUSTSWIM Teacher of Adults: Katherine Bernard
AUSTSWIM Recognised Swim Centre of the Year: Sydney Olympic Park Swim School
AUSTSWIM Melissa van Poppel Presenter of the Year Award: Karina Klueckmann
AUSTSWIM Melissa van Poppel Presenter Scholarship: Robyn Larkham
AUSTSWIM Most Outstanding Contribution Award: Roz Hughes
The support that the evening received was simply outstanding and we thank all those who attended. Special thanks to Office of Communities Sport and Recreation for their continued support of AUSTSWIM and the NSW Water Safety Awards.
For further information please contact:
AUSTSWIM NSW Business Centre
1300 885 666
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Issued on behalf of AUSTSWIM by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Managing Director
Hanson Media Group | P O Box 299 | West Burleigh Qld 4219
Phone: +61 7 5522 5556 | Mobile 0407 385 160 | Fax: +61 7 5522 5557
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