Life savers honoured at awards night

Peninsula life savers have been honoured during Surf Life Saving NSW's night of nights, the 2018 NSW Awards of Excellence.

The Awards saw almost 400 of surf life saving's most outstanding lifesavers, athletes, educators, coaches, and administrators from around the state gathering at Dockside, Cockle Bay, to celebrate the season.

Members from Umina and Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Clubs' both picked up awards on the night.

Umina's surf sport superstar Jemma Smith was named the 2018 Youth Athlete of the Year.

"Some of Jemma's highlights over the past 12 months included trips to Japan and New Zealand as a capped member of the Australian Lifesaving Team, multiple medals at every level of competition, and being crowned Female Competitor of the Carnival at The Aussies in Perth," said SLS NSW surf sport officer Ms Chiara Nowland.

The Umina club Patrol Team One scored the first ever Patrol of the Year Award.

"Outside of their work patrolling Umina Beach, this patrol have gone into the community to assist with defibrillator and resuscitation training work with many local groups, and performed strongly at the Central Coast Branch Patrol Competition," Ms Nowland said.

Ocean Beach's Matthew Calbert also scored on the night, taking out the 2018 Young (Under 19) Lifesaver of the Year Award.

"I wasn't a strong competitor just one of those kids who got in and had a go.

"They asked me to try first aid and it's just grown from there," Matthew said.

SOURCE:

Media release, 26 Aug 2018

Liam Howitt, SLS NSW Media