Bellarine and Surf Coast surf lifesavers have been recognised at Life Saving Victoria’s (LSV) Valuing Volunteers Event, held during Volunteering Australia’s National Volunteer Week.
Victorian lifesavers performed 674 rescues, more than 11,000 first-aid services, 88 Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter taskings and more than 300,000 preventative actions during the 2022-23 patrol season.
This included an early start to the season, as LSV volunteers and staff were deployed to assist in communities inundated by the 2022 Victorian floods, helping those trapped evacuate, delivering life saving medications, surveying from above and providing a source of comfort and support to communities in need.
LSV president Paul James commended the efforts of the organisation’s volunteers and thanked them for their service.
“It takes a special kind of person to give up their own time to help others, let alone the people we recognised at our Valuing Volunteers Events for contributing upward of 100 patrol hours and going above and beyond to extend our services well beyond the red and yellow flags,” he said.
“Thanks to our lifesavers, 674 people made it home safely to their families, this is 674 incidents that could have turned out very differently without our people there to help.
“I am immensely proud of our people, whether you contribute one or 100 hours between the flags, support your club behind the scenes in training and administration, are out there educating the next generation of lifesavers, officiating sports carnivals or flipping sausages on the barbecue, every one of our 45,000-plus members has made an invaluable contribution to our organisation, saving lives and empowering communities to safely enjoy Victoria’s beautiful waterways.”
Gold medallion
Jake Jenkins, Torquay
State long service award
James Coutie, Barwon Heads 13th Beach SLSC and Point Lonsdale
Significant contribution awards – aquatic sport
John Baldock, Anglesea
Ian Blacnhonette, Jan Juc
Isabella Heather, Jan Juc
Sonia Kinsey, Ocean Grove
Mark Patterson, Torquay
Samuel Ranson, Barwon Heads 13th Beach
Andrew Richards, Jan Juc
Flynn Thompson, Lorne
Peter van Miltenbug, Anglesea
Significant contribution awards – volunteer training
Paige Sharp, Ocean Grove
Sky Smith, Apollo Bay
Harry Swingler, Apollo Bay
Geoffrey Thompstone, Jan Juc
100+ patrol hours – gold
Joseph Ames, Apollo Bay
Alexandras Bartaska, Apollo Bay, Brighton and Ocean Grove
Nathan Gillard, Jan Juc
100-plus patrol hours – silver
Stephen Griffiths, Torquay
Brenton Sayle, Barwon Heads 13th Beach
Michael Schofield, Jan Juc
Significant contribution awards – club support
Lyndie Freestone, Ocean Grove
David Marsh, Anglesea
100-plus patrol hours – bronze
Jonathon Cole, Torquay
Dora Dos Santos, Bancoora
Bruce Honey, Ocean Grove
Cara Johnson, Ocean Grove
Huw Joyce, Point Lonsdale
David Marsh, Anglesea
Edward Page-Walker, Bancoora
David Pavia, Ocean Grove
Daniel Phillips, Torquay
Stephen Scammell, Jan Juc
