Albany and Denmark Surf Life Saving Club nippers were recognised among the State’s top young surf life saving members at the annual Surf Life Saving WA Nipper and Youth awards earlier this month.

More than 120 outstanding young members from across WA were recognised for their achievements at the awards in Perth on May 17, with three Albany members and three Denmark members receiving club awards.

Albany SLSC’s Zach Riddel received a Nipper Club Achiever Award, Oliver Pass received a Youth Club Achiever award, and William Schupp was a finalist for Youth Official of the Year.

Nipper Club Achievers are nominated by their clubs for outstanding work in lifesaving, surf sports, surf awareness, and individual safety skills.

Youth Club Achievers are also nominated by their clubs for lifesaving, training, leadership, and surf sports skills.

Denmark SLSC’s Raymi Morris was nominated as a Nipper Club Achiever, and Sadie Barker for Youth Club Achiever.

Makiah Suttie was one of three top performing under-13 competitors in the Fuel To Go and Play WA Nipper Surf Lifesaving Championships, which were held in March, and was recognised as an under-13 age group champion.

More than 300 guests attended the Perth awards ceremony, including the SLSWA chief patron Governor Chris Dawson and representatives from SLSWA partner organisation the Scottish Masonic Charitable Foundation of WA.

Young club members from across the State were recognised for their hard work across lifesaving, surf sports competitions, and volunteering.

City of Bunbury’s George Cowan was named Nipper of the Year, and Quinns Mindarie SLSC’s Brady Fulcher was named under-14/under-15 Lifesaver of the Year.

Sorrento’s Emma Gibbs was named Youth of the Year, while City of Perth’s Florence Shaw took out Youth Official of the Year.

Trigg Island’s Oliver Browne was named under-14/under-15 Athlete of the Year after a hugely successful State and National Championships, as well as co-captaining the WA Pathways Interstate Team, while North Cottesloe’s Edward Wallis took out Nipper Athlete of the Year.

Twenty-three outstanding individuals were also recognised for their attainment of gold level in SLSWA’s Youth Leaders Program, which required them to have accumulated more than 230 volunteer hours during their time as a youth member.