By Ron Lane
In what can only be described as a night to remember, the captain of the Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Scott Summers, came away from the Annual Queensland Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence Dinner on Saturday evening as the recipient of three state awards – with two of them being considered amongst the most prestigious.
The awards were Operations Support Person of the Year, Life Saver of the Year and the Clive Hammond Gold Medal; the latter two were awards most coveted by lifesavers and there can be no doubt that both were well deserved.
Summers, who comes from a military background, told me when discussing life in the military as compared to life in his surf club, “There are three similarities to both – advanced training, self-discipline and above all mateship. With life saving being a rescue organisation, these are the three basic essentials needed to build a strong and united club.”
At the recent Sunshine Coast Life Saving Awards Dinner where Scott received similar acknowledgement, he remarked that in the military he served his country – now he serves the community, and both services were to the people of Australia.
It is quite obvious that in both, his leadership capabilities (in particular when working with the young) is a major factor.
Another member from Sunshine Beach to be recognised was club president Craig Law who received the Surf Sports Manager of the Year.
With so many surf carnivals and still water events, the summer season is always full on and with the importance of surf sports in our clubs these awards are always well-deserved.
Sunshine veteran Max Pettigrove received the Life Guard of the Year. This clubby has been a major member of Sunshine for many long, hard years and it is good to see his continued input receive recognition.
With men of the calibre of Craig Law, Scott Summers and Max Pettigrove, we know that the youth of our clubs is in good hands.
Noosa didn’t come home empty-handed as Alison Pegg received the Masters Competitor of the Year.
It is that time of the year again.
The Seahorse Nippers are back on the sand and Saturday saw another good attendance with thirty two children and sixty-plus helpers.
The Saturday morning sessions which are conducted from 8am-9am will continue for another two Saturdays, 2-9 September.
