SLSWA 2026 Awards of Excellence

Congratulations to our winners!

Volunteer of the Year | Leesa Equid

Trainer of the Year | Leesa Equid

Congratulations to our finalists!

Surf Lifesaver of the Year | Dominic Bertschinger

Young Surf Lifesaver of the Year | Jack Harrison

Helen, Jack and Alex Harrison

Leesa Equid

Swanny at Awards of Excellence 2026 - L to R: Alex, Helen, Tim, Erin, Dom, Leesa, Jamie, Kate, Jack, Jordi, Dave, Robbie and Marc. (Missing: Jon and Logan)

Page 34 – POST, July 11, 2026

Community News

Leesa’s service saves lives

Dr Leesa Equid, a local resident and life member of Swanbourne-Nedlands Surf Life Saving Club, took out two state awards at the Surf Life Saving WA Awards for Excellence on June 20.

She was named Volunteer of the Year for her exceptional commitment to surf life saving and leadership, and Trainer of the Year for delivering training across multiple awards, as well as coordinating and delivering the skills maintenance sessions at the Swanbourne club.

She successfully implemented new Lifesaving CPR protocols for surf life saving clubs throughout Australia.

SLSWA described her as “a driving force behind the creation and development of the new Lifesaving CPR, (placing) surf life-saving volunteers at the forefront of improving out-of hospital cardiac arrest response and treatment”.

Leesa serves on SLSWA’s board of directors, as honorary medical officer, and is a member of the Australian Resuscitation Committee WA Branch.

She is also a member of multiple national advisory groups.

The awards were presented at the Crown Ballroom by SLSWA’s chief patron, Governor Chris Dawson, in front of 500 members and guests from the state’s 31 surf life saving clubs.

Swanbourne-Nedlands Surf Life Saving Club welcomes new members. For more information go to swannysurfclub.org.au, email admin@swannysurfclub. org.au or phone 9384 0020.