National recognition for local surf club
Orewa Surf Lifesaving has gained national kudos for its efforts in getting lifesavers trained up and on the beach.
Kiwi lifeguards and clubs were honoured for their help in saving thousands of lives in the last season at the 2016 Surf Life Saving Awards on Saturday.
Orewa came away with the Gudsell Trophy – awarded to the club with the highest number of new guards gaining their Life Guard Award qualfication in a season.
As part of the awards Surf Life Saving New Zealand also honoured 38 members for their dedication and service at the club, regional and national level, including Orewa members Tom Burgess and Dr Mark Johnston.
Orewa club president John Chapman says it was fitting the club won the trophy at the same time Tom and Mark were recognised as both have been heavily involved in the training of new members training to become lifeguards.
‘‘Mark and Tom have for a number of years been backbones of our lifeguarding activities, both as life guards but also instructors passing on their knowledge to a new generation.
Tom joined the Orewa club in 2004 and gained his Surf Lifeguard Award the same year. He is a current refreshed lifeguard and has been a competitor for 11 of the last 12 years. He has been very active in his club as patrol captain for 9 years and club captain and committee member for 4 years. He has been awarded a service and distinguished service awards at club level.
Regionally he is a referee and examiner for the Surf Life Saving Northern Region and has been awarded a Service and Distinguished Service award. Nationally, Tom has completed his first year as a competition official.
Mark joined Orewa in 2001 gaining his Surf Lifeguard Award in 2006. The specialist in musculoskeletal medicine is better known as ‘Doc’. A current refreshed lifeguard, he has been on the Orewa club committee for three years and the junior committee for 11 years. He has also been volunteer Rookie coach for 12 years and lifesaving instructor for seven years. Regionally, Mark is an examiner and a local competition official for a total of 9 years concurrent terms. He has a club and region Service award and a club Distinguished Service Award.