Christiaan is NZ’s Lifeguard of the Year

A can-do attitude coupled with more than 130 hours of volunteer service to the community has won Christiaan Maarhuis the honour of Lifeguard of the Year.

The Waihi Beach Surf Life Saving Club member was presented the award at the 2016 Surf Life Saving New Zealand Awards of Excellence held at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland overnight.


Waihi Beach Surf Life Saving Club's Christiaan Maarhuis won Lifeguard of the Year at the 2016 Surf Life Saving New Zealand Awards of Excellence held on Saturday night. Earlier this year Christian also took the title of Coromandel Lifeguard of the Year (pictured). Photo: Tiana Gibbons-Campbell.

The NZ Lottery Grants Board Lifeguard of the Year award is the pinnacle of surf lifesaving in New Zealand and highlights the skill, experience and dedication of the lifeguards who give up their time to make our beaches safer.

Christiaan has instructed many lifeguards throughout the season including inflatable rescue boat and rescue board training, along with being head instructor at the Intermediate Lifeguard School.

He also took part in the National Lifeguard School where lifeguards can gain their Advanced Lifeguard Award - the highest award for surf lifesaving in New Zealand, and he was awarded ‘top candidate'.

SLSNZ chief executive Paul Dalton says Christiaan's commitment and dedication to his club, region and surf lifesaving in general is outstanding.

'Despite working full time, with a young family, he never hesitates to step up and lead by example. He is a great role model to the young lifeguards that he is helping to train and they will benefit greatly from his knowledge.”

Also winning an award on the night was fellow Waihi Beach lifeguard Lucy Scown who won the DHL Instructor of the Year. The 18 year-old instructed two four-day lifeguard camps involving 34 candidates and achieved a 100 per cent success rate.

Lucy has coached junior surf athletes on Sunday mornings for three seasons and also instructs at the club's pool swim programme in Katikati multiple times a week. The program has over 50 participants; mostly members of the club but the program is open to anyone in the community.

While the inaugural Wood Group Training First Aid award was presented to Tairua Surf Life Saving Club for their outstanding application of first aid to an elderly patient who collapsed as she was getting out of the surf on December 29, 2015.

Lifeguards, who were training nearby, responded immediately and commenced CPR. They administered oxygen and used the defibrillator to deliver shocks in between CPR until she began breathing again.

'The stabilisation of the patient on the beach was well coordinated and led to a successful outcome for the patient who could have died if it wasn't for the quick response of the lifeguards.”

Also present during last night's ceremony were number of sport awards, and for the fourth year in a row Papamoa's Ross Merrett was named Surf Official of the Year.

'Ross is a well-respected local, national and international surf official. His workload over the past season was immense as an official and facilitator as well as developing and refining the event safety procedures for New Zealand.”

Every year, awards are given to Surf Life Saving members to officially recognise them for their hard work and dedication to Surf Life Saving in New Zealand. Last season, lifeguards saved over 1500 people from life-threatening situations.

THE 2016 SURF LIFE SAVING NEW ZEALAND AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS:

  • NZLGB Lifeguard of the Year: Christiaan Maarhuis, Waihi Beach
  • DHL Volunteer of the Year: Owen West, Oreti
  • BP Rescue of the Year: Bethells Beach
  • Wood Group Training First Aid Award: Tairua
  • DHL Instructor of the Year: Lucy Scown, Waihi Beach
  • DHL Innovation of the Year: Max Corboy, St Kilda
  • Surf Official of the Year: Ross Merrett, Papamoa
  • Coach of the Year: Shane Radovanovich, Paekakariki
  • International Sports Performance: Samantha Lee, Lyall Bay
  • BP Media Award: TV3 Story
  • Gudsell Trophy: Orewa
  • London Trophy: Tolaga Bay

SERVICE AWARDS:

  • Michael Bassett-Foss, Waimarama
  • Jess Bennett, Ocean Beach Kiwi
  • Shane Bennett, Ocean Beach Kiwi
  • David Boersen, Pauanui
  • Tom Burgess, Orewa
  • Denys Carpenter, Pacific
  • Andrew Cochrane, Waihi Beach
  • Kate Dench, Palmerston North
  • Patrick Flynn, Sunset Beach
  • Phil Harman, Waimarama
  • Fraser Harvey, Karekare
  • Neil Hubbard, Pacific
  • Mark Jenkinson, Ocean Beach Kiwi
  • Mark Johnston, Orewa
  • Brent Lane, Karekare
  • Christiaan Maarhuis, Waihi Beach
  • Alec Mackay, Palmerston North
  • John McLarin, Karekare
  • Harley McLaughlin, Waimarama
  • Debbie Moodie, Westshore
  • Damian Munro, Mt Maunganui
  • Harold Pearse, Waimarama
  • Russell Philp, Fitzroy
  • Shaun Sayer, Foxton
  • Matt Wade, Karekare
  • Kubi Witten-Hannah, Karekare

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD:

  • Seth McPhee, Brighton

LIFE MEMBERSHIP:

  • Curly (Royce) Evans, Foxton

50 YEAR BADGE:

  • George Imlach, Lyall Bay
  • Kent Jarman ONZM, Mt Maunganui
  • Gregory Larsen, Ocean Beach Kiwi
  • Phil Morgan, Whakatane
  • Valerie Morrison, Mairangi Bay
  • Robert Pitcairn, East End
  • Brian Quirk, Westshore
  • Patricia (Trish) Reid, Muriwai
  • Graeme Trevor, North Beach
  • John Williams, Opunake

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1 comment

Lifeguards

Posted on 25-09-2016 12:36 | By Starling

Thank you and congratulations to all those who give their time looking after those who don't respect the sea.


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