Gisborne/Tairāwhiti Awards of Excellence Winners Booklet

WINNERS
2021

Introduction
The Zespri Gisborne/Tairāwhiti Local Awards of
Excellence programme recognises the contribution of
our amazing members from the grass roots of Surf Life
Saving during the 2020/2021 season. Nominations are
judged against the criteria outlined for each award by a
local Honours and Awards, Sport or
Lifesaving Committee.
The winners of some categories of the local awards of
excellence will automatically become finalists for the
prestigious SLSNZ National Awards of Excellence
to be held later in 2021.
We are thrilled to announce this year's winners.
Congratulations to all! What you do makes a positive
difference to your club, your community,
and Surf Life Saving.

Contents
HONOURS AWARDS
Regional Service Awards
Distinguished Service Awards
SURF SPORT AWARDS
U14 Male Sportsperson of the Year
U14 Female Sportsperson of the Year
U15 Male Sportsperson of the Year
U15 Female Sportsperson of the Year
U17 Male Sportsperson of the Year
U17 Female Sportsperson of the Year
U19 Male Sportsperson of the Year
U19 Female Sportsperson of the Year
Open Male Sportsperson of the Year
Open Female Sportsperson of the Year

SURF SPORT AWARDS
Masters Female Sportsperson of the Year
Sports Team of the Year
International Individual Sports Performance of the Year
Coach of the Year
Emerging Coach of the Year
Official of the Year
Emerging Official of the Year
LIFESAVING AWARDS
Absolute Surf Frother Award
Patrol Support Person of the Year
Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year
Emerging (U19) Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year
Instructor of the Year
Examiner of the Year
Patrol Captain of the Year
Regional Lifeguard of the Year
Beach Ed Instructor of the Year
SUPREME AWARDS
Volunteer of the Year
Patrol Club of the Year
Club of the Year

Honours
Awards

Regional
Service Awards
The Service Awards acknowledge members who have
given outstanding service to Surf Life Saving
over a period of years.

PETER BOYD
NGATI POROU SLSC
ERIC CLEARWATER
WAIKANAE SLSC
NIGEL HOPE
WAIKANAE SLSC
CALUM WILSON
WAIKANAE SLSC

MICHELLE MITCHELL
WAIKANAE SLSC
RODNEY RICHARDS
WAIKANAE SLSC
ANDREW SHELTON
WAIKANAE SLSC

SALVATORE ZAME
WAINUI SLSC
JOHN MINOGUE
WAINUI SLSC

Distinguished
Regional Service Awards
Distinguished Service Awards recognise those who have
continued to give outstanding service.

SONIA KEEPA
WAINUI SLSC
JUSTIN MARTIN
WAINUI SLSC
BELINDA SLEMENT
WAINUI SLSC

Surf
Sports
Awards

U14 Male
Sportsperson of the Year
Yahni made the finals at Oceans for Surf Race,
Run-swim-run, Board Race and the Diamond.
Also achieved 5 Golds and 1 silver
at Gisborne Junior Champs.
Winner
YAHNI BROWN - MIDWAY SLSC

U14 Female
Sportsperson of the Year
Chloe made the diamond, board finals and was one
of the lucky ones who got to race a couple of finals,
winning gold in both the Beach sprint and
Run-swim-run. At ER Juniors she
won 1 gold and two silvers.
Winner
CHLOE KAPENE - WAIKANAE SLSC

U15 Male
Sportsperson of the Year
Jack had successful Gisborne champs walking away with 1 gold,
3 silvers and a bronze. Jack also attended the BOP Champs
and won a gold, silver and a bronze in the board,
ski and diamond respectively.
Winner
JACK LEPPER - MIDWAY SLSC

U15 Female
Sportsperson of the Year
Sophie showed her skills in the water at ERCs with a silver
in both the board race and diamond, plus a bronze in the
surf race. Sophie then added to an impressive year at
gizzy champs where she won 4 golds and a bronze
Winner
SOPHIE PETRO - MIDWAY SLSC

U17 Male
Sportsperson of the Year
Jack started off the year with a strong showing at ER and
National Pool champs with a three gold haul at both events,
50m Swim with fins, 100m Manikin carry with fins and 100m
Manikin Tow with Fins.
Jack also won gold in the board race at ERCs. Jack is currently a
member of the 2021-22 HP Squad.
Winner
JACK KEEPA - WAINUI SLSC

U17 Female
Sportsperson of the Year
Jess won a silver in the Ironperson at ERCs and then a gold,
silver and bronze at Gisborne champs in the
Ironperson, Surf race and Ski race.
Winner
JESSIKAH FEARNLEY - MIDWAY SLSC

U19 Male
Sportsperson of the Year
Nathan won gold in the Surf race and Ironperson, silver in the
board race and 2km beach run at Gisborne Champs. Nathan
the showed the BOP men how its done and won 3 golds and
2 silvers at the BOP Champs in Ohope.
Winner
NATHAN PROCTOR - WAIKANAE SLSC

U19 Female
Sportsperson of the Year
Briana won two golds at ERC champs in Mt Maunganui this
year in both the Flags and beach sprint. Briana also won
three golds on the beach at Gizzy champs, plus a
bronze in the surf race.
Winner
BRIANA IRVING - WAIKANAE SLSC

Open Male
Sportsperson of the Year
Chris won four gold medals at the National Pool Champs in the
100m Rescue Medley, 50m Manikin carry, 200m super lifesaver,
100m Manikin Tow with fins. This massive performance earnt
Chris another selection into the 2021-22 HP Squad.
Winner
CHRIS DAWSON - MIDWAY SLSC

Open Female
Sportsperson of the Year
Briana is a special athlete who backed up from u19 to opens at
ERCs to win Gold in the Open Womens beach sprint plus a 4th
in the Open Womens beach flags.
Briana is also named in the 2021-2022 HP Squad.
Winner
BRIANA IRVING - WAIKANAE SLSC

Masters Female
Sportsperson of the Year
Emily collected 3 golds at the Masters event in Ohope
this year, in the Board Race, Ski and Ironperson.
Also won gold overall in her age group.
Winner
EMILY GILLIES - WAIKANAE SLSC

Sports Team
of the Year
This crew won 3 golds in the Mass Rescue, Tube Rescue and
Assembly and a Silver in the Single Rescue, then rounding out
the Nationals weekend with a bronze in the Teams Race.
Also won Top U23 Crew at BP Surf Rescue Champs.
After such dominance in the U23s this season has seen
Connor and Oliver named in the 2021-2022
NZ High Performance Squad.

Winner
WAIKANAE U23 IRB RACE TEAM
CONNOR MITCHELL, OLIVER SHIVNAN &
SILKE MCNAUGHT

International
Individual Sports
Performance of the Year
Cory is recognised for his outstanding achievements during the
Nutri-Grain Ironman Series 2020-21 season. The Nutri-Grain
Ironman Series is the toughest surf sports competition in the
world. Just qualifying to compete in this series requires the
highest levels of commitment and dedication to this sport.
Cory has become not only a regular on this series, but a
regular front runner and a name on every competitors and
commentators lips while declaring who the favourites might be.
Competing at this level is very hard to do, but winning at this
level is a feat usually reserved for only the greats in our sport.
Continues onto next page

4th equal overall was an incredibly impressive result and I
couldn’t be prouder of him, his performance and his demeanour
this season. He himself however will not be satisfied with the
outcome, which is the mark of a true competitor, he will push
harder than ever to stand on top of the podium
next time, and into the future.
Cory has become a leader of our training squad at BMD
Northcliffe surf club, he is not loud or dramatic at all, but his
character and genuine desire for everyone to be their best
self means he has commanded that respect from all
who come into contact with him.
All of his family and friends from Midway SLSC, to the wider
Gisborne lifesaving community and indeed NZ lifesaving can be
proud of the way he carries himself and represents them.
- Kev Morrision (BMD Northcliffe, Coach)

Winner
CORY TAYLOR
MIDWAY SLSC

Coach of
the Year
Dion has full involvement in surf lifesaving sport at all levels.
He helped out coaching Nippers on Sunday mornings,
junior through to our senior open athletes. Dion is a
long serving coach for Wainui, he loves the sport and
supports his atheltes and other clubs as well.
He has also been a Whangamata Rep challenge team Makara
Assistant coach, Mentor for Devon Halligan, and is on the
National Sport Committee.

Winner
DION WILLIAMS
WAINUI SLSC

Emerging
Coach of the Year
Emily's passion for the SLS movement is evident and it's impossible
not to get swept up in her energy level during her coaching
sessions. She has coached nippers, competition and oceans
kids this season in addition to running our very successful
holiday program. Emily has provided Waikanae juniors with an
exceptional foundation of skill and knowledge whilst imparting
a great sense of fun, team bonding and leadership.
The juniors who attended the holiday program showed great
improvement and we enjoyed watching them compete at both the
Gisborne Champs and the Eastern Region champs, where they
showed some great personal growth. Emily is a great mentor for
the younger coaches and members alike and we look forward to
seeing her rapport with the clubbies grow further next season.

Winner
EMILY GILLIES
WAIKANAE SLSC

Surf Official
of the Year
Miah's experience as a past competitor helps her in her role as
an Official. She understands the athletes and is there for them.
Miah was an integral part of official development as a mentor
to many new upcoming officials this season.
Winner
MIAH THORPE - MIDWAY SLSC

Emerging Official
of the Year
Eric has been a legend in the officiating space this season
helping out at the Waikanae and Wainui junior carnivals,
Gisborne senior champs, as well as a judge at the North Island
IRB Champs. We really appreciate your contribution to Surf
Sports in the Gisborne area as well as being a part of the
Gisborne Sport Committee. We all look forward to seeing you
progress through the officials ranks in the future!
Winner
ERIC CLEARWATER - WAIKANAE SLSC

Lifesaving
Awards

Patrol
Support Person
of the Year
Tanay is well deserving of this recognition, having never been
involved with Surf Lifesaving before, it was a big challenge
for him to sign up for the Patrol Support Exam. However
he has been a valuable part of the patrol team, displaying
maturity beyond his years, willingness to learn and
a high level of reliability.
Winner
TANAY GOLDSBURY - WAIKANAE SLSC

Emerging (U19)
Volunteer Lifeguard
of the Year
Theo has been an outstanding Lifeguard for Wainui and the region,
he completed a whoping 52 hours of Volunteer Patrol Hours – the
most of any lifeguard at Wainui! He engages with beach users and is
pro-active in identifying hazards and communicates these to the
public, during 'flag duty' he has been observed interacting with public
to keep them within the flagged are.
Theo carries out lifeguard duties with enthusiasm, putting up signs at
beach access, using cones on the beach, Promoting sun smart safety
and taking part in a number of patient assists which is helping
swimmers back to safety. On top of the core patrol duties, he helps
mentor younger lifeguards and is a role model for the club. He has
put his hand up for so much this season, learning lots of new skills
during event lifeguarding and growing his
personal development lifeguarding skills.

Winner
THEO WEATHERLEY
WAINUI SLSC

Volunteer
Lifeguard of the Year
Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the
beach, constantly assessing and organising his patrol to suit
conditions. Andrew prides himself on his professional approach
to Lifeguarding to always uphold the highest standards. In this
he is a true example to those around him and
those he instructs and mentors.
Andrew is a great team member and can be relied on in any
instance. He has a calm and quiet manner that serves well in
emergency situations along with his patience and sense of humor
that puts candidates and lifeguards at ease. A keen learner and
always looking for ways to improve, Andrew seeks out personal
development and training opportunities to further enhance
his personal and lifeguarding capabilities.
As a member of the Character Roofing Tairawhiti Callout Squad
Andrew has responded to many incidents and does his club proud.

Winner
ANDREW SHELTON
WAIKANAE SLSC

Absolute
Surf Frother Award
The Junior Frother of the Year Award is a true Gizzy Style award
to recognize up and coming Junior Lifeguards who have
displayed the characteristics and leadership skills on their
pathway to becoming great Lifeguards.
Winners
BELLA
FITZHARRIS-STEVENS,
WAIKANAE SLSC
ELLA WHIBLEY,
WAINUI SLSC

Instructor
of the Year
Rodney has been working as part of the team and led number
sessions instructing IRB crew and driver Candidates. He was
confident to work individually to deliver the program, He is well
organised and arrived at each session with a clear plan of what
he wanted the candidates to achieve. He has been instructing at
regional level for a number of years and brings that depth of
experience to the IRB sessions. Again, his organisation and
preparation is key to the success of the program.
Winner
RODNEY RICHARDS - WAIKANAE SLSC

Examiner
of the Year
Andrew has lead 3 IRB exams and attended a further 2 Surf Lifeguard
Exams throughout the season, he is currently the Chief IRB Examiner
for the area and takes pride in ensuring all the Instructors and
Examiners are kept up to date with changes to policies, rules and
course content at a national level. Andrew provides a knowledgeable
link to what is going on nationally. Andrew is an exceptional
examiner and brings a huge depth of experience to the role. His
years of guarding, instructing and examining mean that he is an
excellent examiner to candidates.
Winner
ANDREW SHELTON - WAIKANAE SLSC

Patrol
Captain of the Year
Adam showed outstanded leadership in his role as a Patrol
Captain this season. He is mature, level headed and is able to
show true leadership skills in his patrol during busy and quite
days on the beach. Having spent alot of his lifeguarding time
in Raglan, he is able to bring those skills and
apply them to Wainui.
Adam shows real commitment to the role of Patrol Captain,
going over and above to ensure all his team is organised, that
they are aware of who does what on his patrol and portrays
leadership skills to not only his patrol but the rest of our
memebers. This season Adam was selected as a mentor for
National Lifeguard school and has future aspireation to be a
instructor on the school. Having just completed the bp leaders
for life programme, he is the only Gisborne club member to have
completed this programme since its inception in 2014.
Adam is a real asset to Wainui surf club and up and coming
members. He is a role model to our lifeguards and shows
an outstanding level of professionalism.

Winner
ADAM GLENISTER
WAINUI SLSC

Regional
Lifeguard of the Year
Luke is developing well into new leadership roles and is enthusiastic
to learn new things, undertaking a number of personal development
activities – such as instructors course, IRB instructing, rock rescue
module, board rescue module and mentor on Intermediate Lifeguard
School. While on Patrol, Luke mentors the younger lifeguards, and is
prepared to travel and gain experience at other beaches within
Tairawhiti area. Luke was a real asset to the Regional Lifeguard
service, thankyou for your hard work and dedication.
Winner
LUKE WHIBLEY - WAINUI SLSC

Beach
Education Instructor
of the Year
John's knowledge and passion for surf lifesaving and beach
education means that he always strives to deliver an
exceptional beach ed experience for the students. John is
always willing to go above and beyond what is expected.
Thank you for all you hard work John.
Winner
JOHN MINOGUE - WAINUI SLSC

Rescue
of the Year
CHARACTER ROOFING GISBORNE/TAIRAWHITI
SEARCH AND RESCUE SQUAD
9TH JANUARY 2021 RESCUE

Full Story
On Saturday 9th January at ¼ past 6 in the evening, Gisborne
Senior Champs prize giving was underway at Waikanae Surf
Club. All Patrols were finished and Waikanae Lifeguards had only
just finished packing up for the day. Three members of the
Character Roofing Gisborne Callout Squad were attending the
prize giving when the call came in.
A Nurse who was walking along the sand dunes heard a cry for
help, sent out a surfer and another swimmer ( both members of
the public) from the beach and The Nurse ran up to the
restaurant and called Police.
The members at Waikanae Surf Club were alerted that there was
a swimmer in trouble, caught in a RIP just west of Midway Surf
Club.Justin Martin one of the SAR Coordinators Drove to the
scene while Mitch Mitchell Coordinated from Waikanae with
Support from Sonia Keepa via Phone and Radio. Connor Mitchell
and Andrew Shelton in record speed set up an IRB and were on
the water heading to Midway within 2 minutes.
Conditions that day were overcast, choppy and about half a
meter of swell. There were lots of holes, gutter channels and rips
along Midway beach.
Continues onto next page

\When they reached the Patient, a male in his 50’s, he was about
150 meters off shore being supported by a surfer and another
swimmer who were struggling to hold him up on the board.
He was beyond exhaustion and when Connor and Andrew
approached him he was floating on his back, He had no strength
left, it was as though he had just given up.
It took both Connor & Andrew to get the large exhausted man
into the boat.
They then transported him directly back to shore where the
Police and Ambulance were waiting, they assessed the patient as
Status 3 and transported him to Hospital where he was Seen and
treated in the Emergency Department. The quick actions of
Andrew & Connor saved this mans life.
Patrol Team Involved: Connor Mitchell, Andrew Shelton,
Michelle Mitchell and Justin Martin

Supreme
Awards

Volunteer
of the Year
There really ins't an area of the club that Nigel is NOT involved
in! He manages the powercraft department with an exceptional
level of organisation and efficiency. This includes liaising
with the IRB team, patrol drivers and crew and
earning/developing drivers and crew.
Nigel does the majority of fleet maintenance with any
eye to cost effectiveness and longevity of the equipment.
He mentors the younger members to adopt the same high
standards of care and encourages participation in all personal
development courses such as the motor workshops.
Continues onto next page

He coordinates the volunteer lifeguard patrols each year (for 4
years) with excellent communication between patrol captains and
with attention to friendships and skill levels to ensure evenly
skilled and functional patrols. He communicates with patrols
refreshers and monitors progress through the process.
Nigel liaises with event organisers for water safety cover
and organises water safety cover for community events.
He was involved in the establishment of the winter IRB
training academy which trains and develops IRB drivers and
crew from all 3 local clubs. His attention to details ensures
the candidates qualify with a high level of skill and
experience in challenging surf conditions.
Nigel then mentors the candidates to encourage further
development. Nigel is a consultant on the executive
committee on matters of guarding and IRB. He is the first to
arrive and last to leave working bees and, in addition to all of
this, he manages age groups at carnivals, officiates at events,
competes for the club at masters and local club champs,
coaches and mentors nippers and helps with fundraising
efforts. We are incredibly lucky to have Nigel in
the Waikanae and wider Surf family!

Winner
NIGEL HOPE - WAIKANAE SLSC

Patrol Club
of the Year
RIVERSUN WAINUI SLSC

Club
of the Year
RIVERSUN WAINUI SLSC