The Royal Life Saving Society Australia received three prominent silver Australian Sports Awards.

The Royal Life Saving Society Australia received three prominent silver Australian Sports Awards.

The Australian Sport Awards are the only awards in Australia to recognise achievements across all sports in all areas of the sporting sector. The Awards were announced via a special online video presentation in conjunction with media partner SBS Television.

“For everyone involved in The Royal Life Saving Society Australia, it is an enormous thrill for some of our wonderfully dedicated members and employees to receive such esteemed national recognition for all their efforts,” said Shayne Baker, National President Royal Life Saving.

Barbara Morgan based in Victoria, awarded Official of the Year, Greg McLennan based in Western Australia awarded Sport Volunteer of the Year and Betty Sullivan based in the Northern Territory received the Community Leader of the Year Award.

“To the winners Barb, Greg and Betty on behalf of the entire Society, I congratulate you. I would also like to congratulate Jenny Whiteley who was a finalist in the Masters Athlete of the Year award category.

For over 115 years Royal Life Saving has been dedicated to turning everyday Australians nationwide into everyday community lifesavers.

Today’s announcement provides a perfect example of how successful Royal Life Saving has become in promoting a healthy, active lifestyle and maximizing the use of our important local facilities,” added Baker.
Royal Life Saving Greg McLennan receives Sport Volunteer of the Year.

Greg McLennan from Western Australia was named 2007 Sport Volunteer of the Year for his outstanding contribution to Royal Life Saving at state, national and international levels. Greg has been a volunteer in lifesaving all his life from club level activities such as instructing and competing.

Since 1990 more senior roles include Board member of Royal Life Saving Western Australia, National Sports Committee member and National Director of Sport. He is the Australian representative on International Lifesaving panels and has taken a lead role in the coordination and presentation of the World Lifesaving Championships since 1998.

“Volunteering can provide opportunities to people to make a difference at the executive level in national and international organisations that are not afforded in the workplace. It can grow you as a person,” said Greg McLennan.

“Personally, it is an overwhelming honour to receive such a national award. I also consider it an honour to be associated with a great organisation, that is, Royal Life Saving. They have been incredibly supportive and for over 115 years have been doing great things in water safety,” said Greg McLennan.

“Greg has been hugely generous with his time over many years and has offered vital assistance in the development and promotion of Royal Life Saving at state, national and international levels.

In his role as chair of the Commonwealth RLS Sport Committee Greg has played an integral role in building the Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championship into a significant international event,” said Shayne Baker, National President Royal Life Saving.
Royal Life Saving Barbara Morgan receives Official of the Year.

Barbara Morgan has been officiating for Royal Life Saving since 1975. Barbara’s experience extends from the local regional level through to a national and international level.

Barbara has been officiating at world and Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships and in 2006 acted as the World Lifesaving Championships Chief Referee for all national teams. Barbara is a great ambassador for Royal Life Saving, regularly representing the Society at the international level.

Most recently, Barbara represented Royal Life Saving as course Presenter and Chief Referee for the National Lifesaving Championships of India. Barbara trained 31 officials towards top levels of accreditation.

Barbara also represented Royal Life Saving at the Chinese Taipei National Water Safety Lifesaving Championships, where she trained 131 officials and coaches.

“I am just so happy to be recognised for something that I love doing, whether it be working with the kids to spread the water safety message at a local level or officiating and training internationally. I would like to thank Royal Life Saving for their support over all the years I have worked with them,” said Barbara Morgan.

“It is a passion of mine to further develop the growth of lifesaving as a sport,” added Barbara.

“Barb has been a leading Royal Life Saving official and mentor for many years contributing at local, national and international levels. Barb’s officiating at world and Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships has been outstanding, as has been her work in assisting developing lifesaving nations like India and Chinese Taipei,” said Shayne Baker National President, Royal Life Saving.
Royal Life Saving Northern Territory Project Officer receives the Community Leader of the Year.

Betty Sullivan is the embodiment of Royal Life Saving’s vision of turning everyday people into everyday community lifesavers. Betty and the Nauiyu Community Council have worked with RLS representatives from Darwin and Sydney to implement the program which has been extremely successful in promoting the healthy, active aquatic recreation for the entire Nauiyu community.

It was also Betty Sullivan who designed the project logo “Swim for Life”. “It is an enormous honour for this to happen to me, I hope it can help raise awareness of the value in the Royal Life Saving Remote Pools project”, said Betty Sullivan, Royal Life Saving Project Officer Nauiyu.

“Swim for Life means that the swimming pool and project activities are an opportunity for community people to improve their lifestyles. It may be through swimming for fitness, fun or just to be together as a community”, added Betty. Betty would like to translate Swim for Life into the many languages spoken in Nauiyu. “It’s not just for the children, soon we will be working on getting more families and the elders into the water,” she continued.

“The Nauiyu project is part of the Royal Life Saving Remote Pools Strategy to build healthy communities and without Betty’s dedication and commitment, the project would not be the success story it is today. With her ongoing role we hope to continue to further support and expand such important community projects,” said Shayne Baker, National President Royal Life Saving.

For further information please contact Emma Lipscombe, Media Officer
Source: www.royallifesaving.com.au