Night of awards for Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club

LIFE-SAVERS and guests celebrated another year of safety on the beach at the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Lifesaving Club’s Presentation Night on Saturday 9 May.

Guests for the occasion included Henry Scruton, President of Hunter Surf Lifesaving, sponsors, and Terry and Margaret Munright and Ron and Karen Green from Tea Gardens RSL sub-Branch.

Mr Munright, the sub-Branch Vice President, awarded the inaugural RSL Cadet Award to Max Fortunaso.

It was in recognition of his 170 volunteer hours over three patrol teams during the season, the many hours and occasions he volunteered for Nippers Water Safety, and his participation in many community and club activities.

“The cadets program, affectionately known as the Bush Turkeys, was introduced with the aim of retaining the youth members in Surf Life Saving, as they move out of Nippers and cross the few years before becoming full adult lifesaver members,” Registrar Kerrie Moore told News Of The Area.

“The program has engaged them in beach, social, and training activities, and was successful [due to] the hard work and dedication of the co-ordinators, Natalie Skelly and Peta Shelton.”

Other award recipients included:

– Club Person of Year, Tony Howard

– Patrol Person of the Year, Jane Tonitto

– Life Saver of Year, Rod MacQueen

– Junior Life Saver of the Year, Annie Fortunaso

– Rookie of the Year, Dwayne Richardson

– Outstanding Achievement, Natalie Skelly and Peta Shelton

– President’s Award, Chris Elkin

– President’s Junior award, the Bush Turkeys (Cadets)

– Rose Dunlop Award, Hylton Newman.

A special tribute speech was also given by Tony Logue in memory of recently passed long-time member, Ian Dunlop while appreciation was expressed to the many local community groups and businesses who sponsored, donated items and otherwise supported the club during the season.

The many funds raised community-wide and by out-of-town sponsors have enabled the club to complete the renovation of its first aid/operations room, and maintain and update equipment.

The work has been accomplished in the first year of the club’s five-year upgrade plan.

Club Captain Wayne Bower also highlighted many of the activities on the beach for the year, including:

– zero preventable major incidents

– a 50% reduction in rescues

– an increase in active patrol members

– increased integration with UAV (drone) services, and;

– supporting water safety for Nippers and surf life training

In the 2025-26 season, there were 131 in the Nipper’s program, while training for all members in all aspects of surf lifesaving skills has continued throughout the season.

On Australia Day, the club co-ordinated with the Tea Gardens Lions to keep the fun going from the river to the beach, with live entertainment and plenty of demonstrations, helped greatly by the increase in membership numbers.

By Thomas O’KEEFE