Volunteer lifesavers from Altona and Williamstown lifesaving clubs received high accolades at Life Saving Victoria’s Awards of Excellence on August 9.
Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club’s U23 female surfboat team was named the U17 to Open Team of the Year, and Stacey Barrand from Altona Life Saving Club was named Emerging Official of the Year.
Surfboat team members Chloe Robinson, Emily Davey, Eloise Pearce, Olivia Longley and sweep Tim McFarlane, were on hand to accept their award in front of more than 500 people at the ceremony at the Sofitel Grand Ballroom in the Melbourne CBD.
Stacey Barrand was also there to collect her accolade which was presented by Life Saving Victoria’s director of aquatic sport, Aaron Green.
The annual awards celebrate the excellence and outstanding achievements of those charged with keeping the Victorian community safe in the water.
Among the other big winners on the night was Sas McNamara from Portsea SLSC who won the John Wishart Memorial Medal for Lifesaver of the Year.
The Beaurepaire Shield, awarded for Club of the Year, was won by Warrnambool SLSC and the Graeme Long Memorial Medal for Volunteer of the Year went to Anglesea SLSC’s David Marsh.
Sandringham LSC were awarded the Janet Jones OAM Inclusion Award for their Sunday Community Swim, a program for all ages and abilities to build connection, and confidence in the bay.
Paid lifeguards, aquatic industry professionals, water safety educators and organisations that contribute to water safety were also commended.
