Bay's best lifeguards to be honoured

Shaun Smith of Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club captain is a finalist alongside Mount Maunganui's Kent Jarman and Omanu's Thomas Yule for Bay of Plenty Lifeguard of the Year. Photo/file

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

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).

Surf Life Saving Clubs in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel areas include Trust Waikato Hot Water Beach, Trust Waikato Tairua, Trust Waikato Pauanui, Trust Waikato Onemana, Trust Waikato Whangamata, Trust Waikato Whiritoa, Trust Waikato Waihi Beach, Mount Maunganui, Omanu, Papamoa, Maketu, Pukehina, Whakatane and Opotiki. Together, they undertook 455 rescues in the 2014/15 season, up from 333 rescues in the 2013/14 season.

Sarah Leppard, club and membership development manager for the eastern region said: "it's been a good season for local members and the awards evening is the night for them to be recognised for their achievements."

Omanu lifeguard Thomas Yule, pictured here with his Newfoundland puppy Ted who is in training to become a K9 water rescue dog for the beaches. Photo/file

Whangamata club member Seth Rackham will be providing musical entertainment for the evening and New Zealand team manager Mark Weatherall will be the special guest speaker. There will also be a tribute to Jack Dixon and the search that involved most of the Bay of Plenty clubs.

A new award, the Harrison Mundy Memorial Scholarship Award, will be presented to the Eastern Region's top Rookie. The recipient of this scholarship will have participated in their club's Rookie programme throughout the season, attended the Eastern Region Rookie Challenge and completed patrols with lifeguards within their club.