Appeal remembers drowning victim

Sarah Nicholson. Photo / Supplied

The sister of a popular Rotorua teacher who drowned four years ago is raising money to prevent further tragedies.

Sarah Nicholson, 38, who taught at John Paul College, died after getting caught in a powerful rip at Whiritoa Beach on the Coromandel in February 2011.

Now her sister, Emma Campbell, has set up a page on the Givealittle website to raise funds for the Whiritoa Surf Lifesaving Club.

Mrs Campbell decided to start the page in honour of her sister after hearing about more drownings.

"The last four years without Sarah have been very hard for us. Not a day goes by where we do not miss her," she told the Rotorua Daily Post.

"But we don't want her death to be in vain."

She expressed her family's gratitude for the work of Whiritoa surf lifesavers at the time of her sister's drowning, and said she hoped the fundraising effort would help provide new equipment and awareness of beach safety.

"If we can just save one person from drowning with the resources that can be achieved with the money raised then that would be a huge accomplishment," she said.

Since the Givealittle page was created on January 27 it has received $550 from 12 donors. The page describes Miss Nicholson as a "bright bubbly teacher" who was "loved by all her students".

A Facebook tribute to Miss Nicholson is still regularly updated by family, friends, and former students. A post from November 2013 reads: "School has never been the same without you Miss."

Mrs Campbell said her sister was an "amazing person who knew what she wanted in life, and wasted no time getting it".

She said her sister's death had left a "huge void" in her family's life, but she wanted her memory to have a positive effect.

"We are hoping that through this page we can do just that by raising money that will go on to save others from suffering the same pain we have been through. I don't think you ever really think about it until you have been through it yourself. I want her to be remembered for something that provides a positive outcome."

This summer was a tragic reminder of the importance of beach safety, with eight beach drownings across the country in January, compared to 11 during the whole of 2014.

Donations to the Sarah Nicholson Givealittle page can be made at https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/sarahswish.