Some of Tauranga's best lifeguards and volunteers who helped search for Jack Dixon will be honoured in a tribute at this year's Bay of Plenty/Coromandel Awards of Excellence.
The awards, which will be held on Saturday at Trinity Wharf hotel, will recognise the local Lifeguard of the Year, Volunteeer of the Year, and Rescue of the Year.
Nominees for Bay of Plenty Lifeguard of the Year include Shaun Smith (Papamoa), Kent Jarman (Mount Maunganui) and Thomas Yule (Omanu). Nominees for Coromandel Lifeguard of the Year include Mitch Jensen (Whangamata), Chaz Gibbons (Whiritoa) and Christiaan Maarhuis (Waihi Beach).
![Mount Maunganui's Kent Jarman. Photo/file](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/OJ74HHXV7C2VNUTZ26KN3AXO7M.jpg?auth=2b6ab8816c62f73be5b63ff236d24ae5e5d3f7fe7b6e39a3ab1f272ad1ef952c&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
Nominees for Bay of Plenty Volunteer of the Year include Grant Mitchell (Mount Maunganui), Simon Stokes (Whakatane) and Naomi Davoren (Papamoa). Nominees for Coromandel Volunteer of the Year include Lauren Bracken (Papamoa), Lizzie McLean (Whangamata) and Rob Ford (Tairua).