Top honour for water educator
SHAYNE Baker has dedicated most of his life to raising awareness on the dangers of inland waterways.
The Toowoomba man’s tireless efforts educating Australia on water safety has now been recognised with an international award.
Dr Baker will next month travel to the Emerald Isle to accept the Lifesaving Foundation Ireland medal for his “exceptional service to saving lives from drowning worldwide”.
“I’m blown away,” Dr Baker said.
“My involvement really has been around education, running programs, being involved in sport and I am currently the chairman of selectors for the Australian Lifesaving team.”
Dr Baker has pioneered the successful Downs Little Lifeguards program from Toowoomba, and has run similar programs internationally, including in the Philippines, Bangladesh and Malaysia.
He is passionate about educating the general population of drowning statistics which, alarmingly, show the majority of deaths occur in inland waterways and away from the coastal areas.
The Ireland medal was introduced in 2004 as a joint project between the Irish Lifesaving Foundation and the Royal Life Saving Society Republic of Ireland to mark the centenary of the RLSS branch.
It is awarded annually with recipients chosen from around the world based on the culmination of their work towards swim and water safety.
Dr Baker said to be recognised on an international level reaffirmed the work he had done, and inspired more initiatives in the future.
“I think in the early years you’re doing things and just enjoying the experience,” he said.
“Getting such a high-level recognition, it gives me more incentive and motivation to keep contributing.”
Dr Baker will also present at the conference next month.
GETTING SUCH A HIGH-LEVEL RECOGNITION, IT GIVES ME MORE INCENTIVE ....
SHAYNE BAKER