Local surf lifesavers get national awards
Two Palmerston North and two Foxton surf lifesavers have won honours at the their national organisation’s annual awards of excellence.
Palmerston North’s Kate Dench and Alec Mackay and Foxton’s Shaun Sayer won service awards, and Foxton’s Curly (Royce) Evans was made a life member of Surf Life Saving New Zealand.
National chief executive Paul Dalton said the annual awards were a fantastic opportunity to honour all of the dedicated members who had given so much to their local communities over many years.
Last season, lifeguards around New Zealand saved more than 1500 people from life-threatening situations.
Leading out the Manawatu team were Dench and Mackay, who front-footed raising money and overseeing the building of the Palmerston North Surf Life Saving Club’s new clubhouse at Himatangi Beach in 2013.
Dench joined the Palmerston North Surf Life Saving Club in 2004.
She has been the treasurer for the past 16 years and on the building committee for eight years. She has a service and distinguished service award and life membership of her club and she also has regional service award.
Mackay joined the club in 2003, gaining the surf lifeguard award in 2015.
He has been an office holder in the club since 2006, chairman for four years and has been on the building committee for seven years.
A coach in junior surf for 10 years, he has been presented a service and distinguished service award.
In 2011, he was awarded Western Districts volunteer of the year and received a service award in 2014.
Shaun Sayer joined Foxton in 1994.
He has been a committee member, secretary and vice chairman for 13 years, chairman for five years from 2011 to 2016, and president. He has been team manager and club delegate to the district for a year and has a club and district Service award.
Foxton’s Curly Evans has an extensive history serving dating back to 1978 in roles including Foxton Surf Life Saving Club president and Western Districts surf lifesaving association president.
The local surf lifesavers were among 38 members who were honoured at an event at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland on Saturday.
The top award, the NZ Lottery Grants Board Lifeguard of the Year award, went to Christiaan Maarhuis from Waihi Beach Surf Life Saving Club.