On Saturday night the club held our Annual Dinner, where we celebrated another successful season and recognised the outstanding achievements of our members.
We looked back on the season through video and photo presentations, and recognised that the achievements of our members today have been built on the foundation built by all our members since the club's foundation in 1924.
Some of those long-standing members were recognised, with 25 Year Membership awards presented to Bruce Lilburne and Paul Andrew, while Ian Scott received his 50 Year award. Although not present on the night, Bill Gaynor and Ric Roberts also were recognised with 50 Year awards.
The club's most important awards were also presented, recognising those members who made an outstanding contribution during the season.
The youth awards are presented in the Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 age groups, in each case to members that have shown the greatest potential to succeed in all areas of Surf Life Saving.
The Under 15 winner was Phoebe George.
The Under 17 winner was Jeremy Doney, who also received the inaugural Floreat Lion's Club Lifesaver's Scholarship.
The Under 19 winner was Ben Carrick.
Before our Lifesavers make their way onto the beach each summer, a huge amount of work is done on training and preparing them for their important and sometimes life threatening duty. At the very corner stone of this role is the Training Officer.
The Training Officer of the Year Award is presented to the club Training Officer that has contributed the most to instruction of candidates for awards in regard to the dedication of the instructor, the number of candidates successfully trained and the standard of candidates trained.
Ric Lovett received this award for providing excellent instruction teaching through personal experience, providing abundant assistance in club proficiency, and coaching first aid teams.
The Coach of the Year Award is awarded to a club coach based on the dedication of the coach and their competitors, competitive results gained, the development of future competitive potential and the attitude of the coach and their competitors to general club requirements.
This year Leigh Buchan receives this award for outstanding commitment to coaching, producing numerous State and Australian individual and team finalists and guiding Dean Scarff to Australian Gold in the Open Men's Beach Sprint.
The lifesaving service provided by our volunteer members is not only the core purpose of our club, but it is the first and sometimes last impression the general public have of our club.
The Patrol Member of the Year Award is presented to the member that is considered to have been the most diligent in patrolling the beach.
The winner this year was John Davies, who completed all required patrols, in addition to making himself available for Nipper water safety. John also completed the second highest number of patrol hours for the season.
The performance of our club and the services we provide to our members and the community can bee seen as the shop front of our operations. Behind the scene are a tireless and committed group of people that spend numerous hours reviewing by-laws, balancing the books, collecting statistics, liasing with sponsors and supporters etc.
The Administrator of the Year award is presented to the Club Officer who has made an outstanding contribution through their performance as a Club Officer, and this year was won by Susie Stock.
A club is only as strong as it's members. A member's contribution to the club can vary from the minimum requirements through to an unselfish, hardworking and dedicated commitment. A number of members of our club put everything on the line, just to make sure other members enjoy their experience as a club member.
The Best Club Member award is presented to the member whose efforts and examples across all areas of the club have contributed the most to the Club's efficiency and welfare.
This year's Best Club Member Award goes to a member that has taken it upon himself to do a patrol at least every weekend, provide general club room upkeep, compete in a boat crew, and help quench the thirst of club members every Friday night - the one and only Robbie Somerford.
Well done to all club members on the 2006-07 season, and we look forward to greater things next summer.
