Swanny Award Celebrations 2025/26

We are excited to share a special edition post to bring you the Club Award winners and Youth Award highlights to cap off a fantastic 2025/26 season.

Thank you to SNSLSC Club Patron, City of Nedlands Mayor Leonie Browner, Vice Patrons City of Nedlands Coastal Ward Councillors Eliza Clapin and Stephen Kolbeke, Life Members, Members and Sponsors - Bespoke Finance Group and Bicton/Claremont Travel for attending the Annual Dinner. Your support is warmly appreciated.

Thanks and kudos to the Swanny Annual Dinner team of Mark Grzanka and Maia Simmonds for putting on a great event and generating hours of legwork in advance to ensure the night was a hit.

Thanks to MC extraordinarre, Dave Parsons, for keeping everything running smoothly, Rob Lavis for the great photos, Peran Bishop, AV Legend and Elliott Kluken with Sophie Gallagher for the production of the Annual Dinner Video.

Thanks to every Swanny Member and supporter for an amazing season. For those who couldn't attend the Annual Dinner, or those who want a refresher, here's the rundown or read about these outstanding achievements in the 2025/2026 Annual Report.

Congratulations to all the Swanny legend trophy recipients!

Life Membership

Congratulations to Paul Lippiatt and Leesa Equid in receiving Life Membership, the highest Club honour which has been bestowed on only 38 members in the Club’s 94 years of service. Paul and Leesa's service history and achievements are too numerous to do service to here so please keep a look out for a detailed account in the 2025/26 Annual Report.

Simon Davies Award (Best Club Member)

Jack Harrison is a highly deserving recipient of the Simon Davies Best Club Person Award, having made exceptional contributions across all four pillars of lifesaving with initiative, humility and an unwavering commitment to service. Importantly, like the award's namesake, he has done so without ever seeking recognition or praise for his efforts.

Patron's Award for Outstanding Achievement

This season saw only the second occasion in the Club's history that the Patron's Award for Single Most Outstanding Achievement was presented jointly to two individuals – Alex Aberle-Leeming and Nicholas Veenstra – for demonstrating selflessness and bravery as part of a multi-agency emergency response at Swanbourne Beach, outside of patrol hours.

Club Patron City of Nedlands Mayor Leonie Browner and Club Vice Patrons - City of Nedlands Coastal Ward Councillors Eliza Clapin and Stephen Kolbeke with Club President, Logan Ovenden Clarke and Deputy President, Lizzie Bird.

Patrol Member of the Year

This year’s Patrol Member of the Year goes to Neve Stilwell in recognition of the exceptional commitment and the positive energy she brings to every patrol. Neve’s consistent reliability, leadership, and genuine enthusiasm for wearing the red and yellow uniform make her a very deserving recipient of this award.

Patrol of the Year

This year’s Patrol of the Year goes to Sharp Patrol. Sharp Patrol set the standard this season for what proactive patrolling really looks like! Under Patrol Captain James’ leadership they demonstarted that the best patrol culture is one built on getting wet, good humour and a genuine love of being on the beach. Their approach embodies the spirit that keeps this club ticking and members coming back. 

Awesome work James Anderson, Tara Binns, Lucas Bower, Benjamin Greedy, Rodney Greedy, Lucy Hill, Naomi Hill, Naomi Kohen, Ruby Marks, Danielle Marsland, Georgia Pegrum, Steve Pegrum, Erin Stockton-Rice and Sophie Yde.

Significant Contribution to Surf Sports

Timothy Tucak is the inaugural recipient of the Club’s Surf Sports Award, introduced this year to recognise a Member who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of surf sports. Tim’s impact on Surf Sports at the Club has been exceptional—he is involved in virtually every aspect and his dedication ensures the program continues to thrive. 

Without Tim, Surf Sports at the Club would not function as effectively as it does today and his tireless efforts, leadership and passion make him a truly deserving recipient of this inaugural award.

Bronze Medallion Awards 25/26

A special welcome to our new 2025/26 Bronze Medallion holders, a representation in attendance in the photo above. 

5-year Service Awards

Congratulations to Annabella Alcorn, Samuel Bewsher, Rosemarie Blakey-Scholes, James Boekeman, Pablo Buitrago, Louise Carey, Melissa Davis, Mitchell Davies, Oliver Defrancesco, Sophia Defrancesco, Joshua Engelbrecht, Sophie Gallagher, Elijah Harrison, Oralee Logan, Lloyd Miller, David Morley, Karen Motta, Alen Pazin, Harrison Pazin, Stirling Stilwell, Bridie Swingler, Tara Swingler, Peter Tan and Nicholas Veenstra.

10 year - Long Service Awards

Congratulations to Lauren Brayford, Christopher Brigg, Lloyd Green, Naomi Kohan, Ninette Lorenzen, Rodney Peh, Brodie Price, Maia Simmonds, Rhodri Simmonds and Yvonne Stickland.

Kelly O’Mara Award

This year’s recipient of the Kelly O’Mara Award is Georgia Pegrum. Georgia has demonstrated dedication across all areas of Club life, including lifesaving, youth leadership, education and surf sports. Alongside her service, Georgia continues to compete at Points Races, Country Carnivals, State Championships and the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. Her commitment to personal development is reflected in the range of qualifications she has achieved.

Georgia’s all-round contribution, leadership, and dedication make her a highly deserving recipient of this award.

Outstanding Contribution to Education

Leesa Equid is a deserving recipient (for the second time, first awarded in 2020/21 season) of the Club’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education, in recognition of her exceptional leadership, dedication and tireless work in skills development and proficiency.

Among many contributions this season, Leesa successfully led the introduction of Lifesaving CPR (LCPR) at the club, drawing on her involvement at both state and national levels where she has played a key role in its development and rollout.

Leesa has devoted countless hours to education this season and her contribution has been instrumental in maintaining the Club’s operational readiness and elevating the standard of training across all levels.

Surf Sports

Congratulations to all the winners of the Sports Surf awards across the Club Championship events, Points Races and Perpetual Trophy events.

Perpetual Trophies

Presidents' Cup - Stirling Stilwell

Oldham Memorial Cup - Catherine Fitzhardinge

FE Ford Cup - Tom Peebles

Duncan McPhail Trophy - Stirling Stilwell

Caris Cup - John Henderson

Overall Club Champions

Stirling Stilwell and Kathleen Laws

Open Female - Kathleen Laws

Open Male - Stirling Stillwell

O/40 Female - Catherine Fitzhardinge

O/40 Male - Raymond Lampard

U/14 Female - Isabelle Thorpe

U/14 Male - Benjamin Greedy

U/15 Female - Gretal Swingler

U/15 Male - Finn Watt and Tom Peebles (equal first)

U/17 Female - Neve Stilwell

U/17 Male - Andres Marambio Piasek

U/19 Female - Sophie Gallagher

U/19 Male - Stirling Stilwell

Overall Points Races Winners

Champ Phetium and Joanne Turton

New Bronze Medallion Trophy

Neve Stillwell and Benjamin Ruett (absent)

Nipper Program Award

Swanny’s Nipper Program Award recipients, for their outstanding contribution to junior development in 2025/26 are the U13 Age Group Manager team of Jon Broomhall, Charli-Rose Lippiatt, Paul Lippiatt and Georgia Pegrum.

Together, the U13 AGM team exemplifies the dedication and spirit that underpin the success of the Nipper program.

Youth Awards Dinner

The Rampant Swan was decked out for a celebratory dinner for Swanny's Youth on the 24 April. Enjoy highlights from the night but read all the detail in the Junior Development section of the 2025/26 Annual Report.

Youth Club Championship winners and competitors

Youth Club Achiever Award 2025/26: Neve Stilwell

Nipper Club Achiever 2025/26: Charlotte Holdsworth

Swanny Nominee for U14/U15 Lifesaver of the Year: Fynn Watt