At the 2023 Newcastle Permanent Lower North Coast Branch Awards of Excellence presentation last weekend, two St Clare’s Year 10 student were the recipients of a major award.

There are six clubs in the branch, Crowdy Head, Taree/Old Bar, Black Head, Forster, Cape Hawke and Pacific Palms.  Awards were announced under a number of categories:  club, team, and individual.  With individual awards, only one person in the branch can be selected. 

Gemma Eady-Muxlow (Crowdy Head Club) Lower North Coast SLS Branch Award of Excellence for Youth Volunteer of the Year with Newcastle Permanent Mobile Lending Manager Craig Fuller & Dylan Kinkade (Forster Club) as Youth Athlete of the Year with MidCoast Mayor Claire Pontin

Dylan Kinkade was announced as 2023 Youth Athlete of the Year.  Following his progression through club and branch events, Dylan won the NSW Under 15 Surf Life Saving Country Beach Sprint Championship and was runner-up in the NSW State Under 15 Surf Life Saving Beach Sprint Championship.

Gemma Eady-Muxlow was judged to be the 2023 Youth Volunteer of the Year.  Gemma has had an outstanding career in surf lifesaving as she has moved through the Junior Activities Program (Nippers) to her current participation in the Youth Program.  This year, through using her Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC), Gemma has been able to assist as a Water Safety Officer at her Crowdy Head Club, serves as the Under 11 Nipper Age Manager, ran an overnight Club Development Camp for Nippers, and assisted in media dissemination at the NSW Country SLS Championships through her roles in photography and interviews.

Ian Evans
NSW Lower North Coast Branch Media