Foxton lifeguard Callum McKenzie wins award for second year running

Callum McKenzie out on an IRB.

Foxton lifeguard Callum McKenzie has won a major surf lifesaving award for the second year running.

The 22-year-old was again named Lifeguard of the Year, at the Capital Coast Awards of Excellence awards dinner at the weekend.

McKenzie has surf lifesaving in his blood. His grandfather Ron Ballantyne was a life member of Surf Lifesaving New Zealand.

Callum McKenzie had been involved with surf lifesaving as long as he could remember. He started off with the Levin-Waitarere club when he was 6.

"I started there as a nipper and have stuck with it ever since," he said.

Now with the Foxton Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, he was patrol captain, head IRB instructor, lifeguard instructor, and head of first aid.

He was said to "display respect to all clubbies while maintaining a professional and positive attitude".

Foxton Beach lifeguard Callum McKenzie.

McKenzie contributed to Capital Coast as a patrol auditor and volunteered as an event guard at regional and national events.

He enjoyed passing knowledge on and was keen to instruct whenever he could.

"You're in it for life," he said.

Surf lifesaving was as much about prevention as it was saving lives. He was fortunate to have another summer that was free of tragedy, with prevention a key focus of patrol.

McKenzie said during a recent summer patrol he noticed a couple floating on an inflatable pink flamingo drifting further and further from the beach.

At the mercy of the wind and sea and in need of rescue, they were astonished at how far they had blown from land and were fortunate to be rescued.

Volunteers from surf life saving clubs at Palmerston North, Riversdale, Foxton, Levin/Waitarere, Otaki, Paekakariki, Titahi Bay, Maranui, Lyall Bay, and Worser Bay make up the Capital Coast region.

This season Capital Coast lifeguards completed 11 rescues, 8 searches, 47 first aid incidents, 20 patient assists, and 26,299 people were involved in 3667 preventative actions.

Central region sports manager Troy Greenem said the awards honoured volunteers who keep beaches and people safe and lifesaving sport athletes who have shone in competition.

Callum McKenzie out on an IRB.

Greenem says this season has been the "penultimate test" for their membership.

"We have dealt with the uncertainty of Covid-19, battled a summer that has had numerous ups and downs, and now continue to navigate through the decreasing number of people volunteering in New Zealand," he said

"As we are primarily a lifesaving entity, we come together to congratulate those who have gone above and beyond for the movement, such as Lifeguard & Surf Lifesaving Club of the Year. We also acknowledge our key volunteers as well honouring those who have provided numerous years of service," he said.

Capital Coast Awards of Excellence 2021 Winners:
U19 Lifeguard of the Year: Mac Van Den Heuvel - Titahi Bay Surf Life Saving Club
Lifeguard of the Year: Callum McKenzie – Foxton Surf Life Saving Club
Instructor of the Year: Mike Taylor - Riversdale Surf Life Saving Club
Sportsperson of the Year: Neo-Tama Hargreaves - Maranui Surf Life Saving Club
U19 Sportsperson of the Year: Che Pulepule - Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club
Sports Team of the Year: Paekakariki Open Male IRB Team - Paekakariki Surf Life Saving Club
Coach of the Year: Rhys Speirs - Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club
Surf Official of the Year: Teri Anderson - Paekakariki Surf Life Saving Club
Volunteer of the Year: Jane Tiley - Riversdale Surf Life Saving Club
Innovation of the Year: Titahi Bay / Deborah Donkin - Titahi Bay Surf Life Saving Club