Jamie Whitton and Melissa Meaker  picked up two key awards at the FSC branch of Life Saving NSW’s presentation night on Saturday.

The branch, which stretches from Batemans Bay south to Pambula, includes eight surf clubs in total.

Whitton was named the branch’s lifesaver of the year, while Meaker was awarded the branch person of the year. 

Both Meaker and Whitton said the awards were a wonderful surprise. 

“I was happy to be nominated, but to actually win, it was a real surprise,” Whitton said. 

Meaker echoed his sentiment.

“It was a big surprise and a big honour,” Meaker said. 

The award for branch person of the year is given annually to an executive that shows exceptional passion and enthusiasm in their role.

“It’s just a really great award for the amount of work that all the lifesavers put in throughout the season,” she said.

Meaker was recognised for her work organising surf sports, but also for developing skills in young members. 

Meaker said her work with young lifesavers was a highlight for her. 

“I really enjoy keeping teenagers involved.”

She has trained 17 kids this year alone aged between 13 and 14. 

Meaker started with the club eight years ago after moving from Queensland and quickly took to surfboat rowing. 

However, her interests shifted to the organisational roles and has been the director of surf sports for the past three years. 

Meanwhile, Whitton’s award not only recognised his work with patrols and carnivals, but also assisting coordinating the Tathra Nippers program. 

“For me it’s the most important thing, working with the kids is the future of the club,” Whitton said. 

“I help coordinate the Nippers, there is such a good team out here and we all support each other,” he said. 

Both winners said they enjoyed working with the teams around them and it made life easy to have the strong camaraderie of the clubs at their back. 

“I enjoy spending time with other people in the branch, there is a great camaraderie,” Meaker said. 

“And it is a whole family activity for us, we all get down on the beach together,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Whitton said he also enjoyed working with other club members. 

“The people we work with at the club are people we work with during the rest of the year at rugby league, soccer and hockey, they’re all community minded people,” Whitton said. 

“There are so many role models at a club like Tathra, not just for my kids, but for everyone young and old.”

Whitton said his wife was already involved in the club, and his eldest son is getting active in the Nippers program. 

“It’s something I want to do for the rest of my life, my wife and I do it together and it’s something I want my children to do as well.”

Whitton said working alongside members from other clubs up and down the coast at regional carnivals gave him even more pride to be a lifesaver. 

“ I’ve realised as I get more involved in the carnivals, all the clubs have the same sort of people involved.

“From Batemans Bay down to the border, our clubs are full of community minded people.”

Whitton emphasised the level of teamwork coming out of the Tathra club and said it helped drive members to be better each year. 

“It was a team effort from Tathra.

“I really appreciate all the support from everyone at the club who have helped me all year,” he said.