2011_SLSNZ_SurfRescueMag

8
FROM THE PRESIDENT:
Bob Harvey
Plenty of challenges
for our second century
Our centenary celebrations went off in style last
season but Surf Life Saving New Zealand President
Bob Harvey believes embracing diversity is the key
for the next 100 years.
It is with the greatest pleasure that I welcome you to
our second half, the beginning of our second century
between the flags.
This next era has already started in style. Recently at
Auckland’s Maritime Rescue Centre, Prime Minister
John Key - a great friend of our movement and father
of newly-qualified lifeguard Max - handed over a
cheque for $250,000 as a way of saying thank you.
It was a sincere thank you for 100 years of dedication
and service and this generous gift shows the respect
that we have earned from the people of New Zealand
and the Government.
We go into this new century stronger and, if a little
challenged, we realise we are now one organisation
with a great future ahead. This future needs to be
owned by surf lifesaving and our partners - luckily the
strength of our sponsorship and our relationship with
our communities has never been better.
I’d like to acknowledge the extraordinary rich friendship
that we developed with the out-going Governor
General of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand, and
we look forward to welcoming, as Patron, our new
Governor General Sir Jerry Mataparae.
At the annual meeting in Hamilton in September, we
acknowledged our brightest and greatest pioneers
that are living today in our life membership awards.
I’d like to add a personal congratulations to them
and welcome them to the list of giants who made our
organisation what it is today.
Our newest life members are: Trevor Corkin, Rodger
Curtice, Dave East, Tim Jago, Murray Kemp, Garry
Mace, Dick McAllister, Eoin Waugh, Murray Wilson
and Ron Stack.
In the years ahead, we need to grow our organisation
in new and exciting programmes, like the leadership
innovation that the Prime Minister acknowledged in
handing us the Government cheque.
This outstanding programme will see us growing from
within our organisation, a new leadership profile to
carry our flame well into the next 100 years.
I believe this leadership programme will restart Surf
Life Saving New Zealand and I’d like to think it will
bring more diversity than our last century.
It will grow and deliver a richer organisation and reflect
the changing culture and society we now live in.
We need, through schools and groups that surround
us, to build greater partnerships with the different
ethnic groups that are missing from our clubs.
New Zealand has changed in recent decades and we
need to understand that change and to work with it.
In the Auckland region, we need to see Asian,
Indian and Polynesian involvement and we certainly
need, throughout New Zealand, to grow a Maori
partnership with youth and young leadership.
You can read about the Tolaga Bay innovations
happening right now further into this magazine – it’s a
great example on how we can benefit and grow.
Like the All Blacks, who were once nearly all Pakeha,
we need to recognise change. We need to try harder
as we did in bringing women into our organisation.
We now have to add a welcome to newer voices and
convert visitors to our beaches into lifesavers.
I’m very optimistic this season will be a great one for
us and I welcome every lifeguard in New Zealand to be
part of who we are, what we do and what we can be.
Have a great season!
Bob Harvey, QSO, JP
President, Surf Life Saving New Zealand
LEADING THE WAY: SLSNZ PRESIDENT BOB HARVEY SPEAKS AT THE
MARCH-PAST AT THIS YEAR’S NATIONALS. PHOTO: ROSS MALYON