Curfew to Lifeguard of the Year
Being a lifeguard helped Samuel Kau see the world in a different light.
His journey started when he saw an advert in the newspaper saying ‘Do you want to be a lifeguard?’.
At the time he was on 24-hour curfew and made the decision right there to move forward in life.
Fast forward eight years and Kau has been awarded one of this years top New Zealand aquatics awards ’Lifeguard of the Year’.
The Otara Pools and Leisure lead lifeguard says this achievement is beyond his wildest dreams.
‘‘I couldn’t believe it at first I thought they read the name out wrong, I was so happy and blessed at the same time,’’ Kau says.
The Lifeguard of the Year Award is awarded to the nominee that has made the most significant contribution to their facility and the aquatics industry over the past year.
Kau says the Otara Pools and Leisure Centre is a place that is close to his heart.
‘‘Due to the fact that it has changed my life for the better and also gave me a second chance. It was here I gained confidence and started to build self esteem. I learnt responsibility, accountabil- ity and maturity.’’
‘‘It has opened up many doors that led me into a position of bettering myself and advancing in my job.’’
Alongside working and studying, Kau is also developing a fitness programme called ‘Hydro Fight’.
‘‘It is a box fit style class for people that are intimidated by the box fit classes that run at our cen- tre. It is a water based programme aiming at getting participants confident enough to actually join the box fit classes on land or even join the gym and stay active.’’
Kau is tailoring the programme which is still in ‘trial mode’ but people who have attended the trials have given positive feedback.
‘‘I also want to extend the programme to the wider community of south Auckland after I have launched it here at Otara Pool and Leisure,’’ he says.
Kau says he is forever grateful for the opportunities that have come his way during this time at the pools.
‘‘I am determined to progress and keep challenging myself for my job, myself and my family.’’
Go to tinyurl.com/z9wj5j5 for more information on the pools.