Czes Lawicki of North Entrance SLSC was named Lifesaver of the Year at Surf Life Saving Central Coast’s prestigious Awards of Excellence on June 7.
The awards brought together all 15 Central Coast clubs and their key sponsors at Mingara Recreation Club for a night celebrating outstanding achievements in water safety, community service, and lifesaving excellence.
The evening showcased the remarkable dedication and professionalism of surf lifesavers across the region.
Lawicki said he was “extremely humbled” to take the top award.
As Club President of North Entrance SLSC, award organisers said he leads with exceptional professionalism, compassion and vision, which has transformed the club’s operational capability.
Since beginning his patrol duties in 2017, Lawicki has accumulated more than 1,000 patrol hours, averaging 125 hours annually while juggling multiple critical roles.
His diverse skill set and commitment see him serving as Patrol Captain, IRB Driver, RWC Operator, Duty Officer, and Emergency Callout Team Coordinator.
Oliver Tucker of Ocean Beach SLSC was named Youth Lifesaver of the Year for his outstanding and community-minded contributions spanning training, emergency response, youth development, and water safety education.
As a committed Vice Patrol Captain and educator, he has played a vital role in building operational capability at the club.
His mentoring approach has been instrumental in guiding members through powercraft qualifications, significantly increasing the number of skilled IRB operators at Ocean Beach SLSC.
His also competes in IRB racing during winter months to continually enhance his skills.
Terrigal SLSC secured back-to-back Club of the Year honours, cementing its position as the region’s premier surf lifesaving organisation.
The achievement follows a remarkable 2024 season where Terrigal claimed Central Coast, NSW, and Australian Club of the Year titles, demonstrating consistent excellence across all levels of competition and community service.
The club has continued to grow in membership, exhibit outstanding governance and creating opportunities for all members in a wide range of areas.
SLSCC President Matt Slattery said the awards are a reminder of SLS’s mission to ensure that the community and visitors are safe when they swim at patrolled beaches.
