LOCAL surf club Captain Wayne Bower was crowned the Newcastle Permanent Hunter Branch Surf Lifesaver of the Year for the 2025-26 season at a recent ceremony in Newcastle.
The event, held at The NEX, recognised several SLSC members across the Hunter Branch, which extends from Lake Macquarie to Hawks Nest.
Wayne joined the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest SLSC seven years ago, heading out from Maitland, as many club members do, to enjoy the nearest beach while his son learnt life-saving skills through the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest (TGHN) SLSC Nippers program.
Wayne went on to attain his Bronze Medallion so he could contribute to the community and safety of Hawks Nests’ Bennetts and Jimmys Beaches, as well as stepping up for five years as a member of the management committee, including three as the club captain.
“This award is a validation of the work that the club and committee has done, as I certainly have not achieved so many things on my own, but with the help of a dedicated team,” Wayne told News Of The Area.
The Surf Lifesaver of the Year award recognises an individual who has developed systems, practices and worked with the support of people to develop lifesaving capability on the beach, including (but not limited to) improving engagement, encouraging more patrol members, and producing excellent, measurable statistics such as the ‘zero preventable injuries’ on the beach last year.
Wayne used his professional and personal capabilities to help put the systems in place, and ensured that the entire committee of the TGHN SLSC was recognised as integral to his award.
“I am honoured and humbled to be recognised and nominated by the club, and now at branch level, there are so many people in surf lifesaving who do so much,” Wayne said.
“Thank-you to all the club members in TGHN SLSC for their support.
“I did not do all the things for which I was recognised on my own. I facilitated, but they did the work.
“They have all proven that is entirely possible to be in a full-time job, bring up a family, and volunteer for the community.”
Wayne, known for his focus and resilience, has consistently prioritised the club’s strategic goals and its core mission – delivering safe, effective lifesaving service to the community.
“We did not get to everything that was on our main plan for the club, and have encountered several challenges during the year, including differing member perspectives on club direction,” he said.
TGHN SLSC President Rebecca Curtis was also honoured by Hunter SLS President Henry Scruton’s own President’s Award, in recognition of her own resilience throughout the season as she worked for the club.
Wayne’s Hunter Branch award automatically nominates him for the state-level NSW SLS Awards of Excellence, to be held in Sydney on 23 August
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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