LIFE saving can become a family affair, as it has for Jack Alterator who was nominated for the Hunter Surf Life Saving Youth Life Saver of the Year back in June.
“It was a very easy nomination for the committee to make after he had been awarded the club’s annual Junior President’s award for the 2024-25 season,” Club Registrar Kerrie Moore told News Of The Area.
“Jack demonstrates outstanding personal, surf lifesaving and team skills.”
He joined Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club in 2020 at the age of 13, and his sisters were right there with him.
He had been coming to Hawks Nest all his life, and while attending a club Open Day, he was instantly impressed.
“I thought it would be a great way to be more social and hang out with others my age,” Jack told NOTA.
The club realised quickly enough that his great love of the surf and other attributes would make him an asset to the team.
For the two years after joining, he learnt the skills required to be an active patrol member, becoming proficient in the use of a rescue board, as well as gaining competencies in swimming in the surf and surf sports.
“In 2022, Jack joined the ranks of active patrol member volunteering on Bennett’s Beach, and over the last three seasons he has volunteered well above his rostered hours, putting his hand up to assist on Christmas Day, special events, the annual Triathlon and most Sundays for Water Safety for Nippers activities,” Kerrie said.
“His enthusiastic attitude to assist the Nippers coordinators, patrol captains, his fellow patrol members and the public is very evident – proven time and again by his success in gaining many surf lifesaving awards.”
Jack was also a member of the TGHN SLSC team that undertook the award-winning December 2024 rescue of 12 swimmers caught in a flash rip off Bennett’s Beach.
During the 2024/25 season, Jack’s skills as a presenter and trainer were recognised by Chief Training Officer Debbie Booth, who has encouraged and supported Jack in gaining his Probationary Training Officer Award, making him the youngest training officer in the Hunter Branch.
He is now a valued member of the Education team at TGHN SLSC, and has successfully delivered the CPR and emergency care components for Under 10 -13 Nippers in 2024-25 season.
Jack is always offering his help; from selling raffle tickets, volunteering to be a part of fundraising events and/or community activities.
Jack is now joined by other members of his family on patrol, with his sister Demi having her SRC and his younger sister Elise planning on completing the training this season.
Registration for the 2025 -26 season is now open for all levels of membership, including Junior (Nippers), active, associate, and community.
Anyone interested in registering can visit tghnslsc.com.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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