Trust Waikato Pauanui Surf Life Saving Club's last patrol for the 2016/17 season over Easter proved to be very, very busy one.

Despite Cyclone Cook visiting and bringing with it large swells and offshore winds, there were good numbers on the beach and in the water each day, says club spokesperson Jenny Peploe.

'Also on the Saturday we hosted the Eastern Region Inflatable Rescue Boat Drivers and Crew examination, with lifeguards from Pauanui, Whangamata, Waihi and Onemana examined towards their IRB awards.

'The day proved to be a popular spectator event, with a lot of exciting action on the IRBs due to the swells. All candidates made it through though and are now qualified to crew or drive the IRBs.”

Then on the Sunday, just before the club's prize giving dinner was set to begin, they received a callout that a jet ski was overturned on the Tairua bar.

'In conjunction with our friends from Coastguard and St Johns, we teamed up, with Coastguard getting the over turned ski back to Royal Billy Point and the lifeguards got the patient back to shore.

'He had a very close call as he had secondary drowning, so St Johns was called to take him to hospital.”

Jenny says it was a sell-out crowd at the Awards Dinner, which was hosted by JK's Kitchen and Bar and after a delicious dinner, celebrated the prize winners.

On behalf of the club, Jenny would like to thank Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort for the gift voucher for a night's accommodation and breakfast for two which was donated for the Lifeguard of the Year 2017 prize.

'Unfortunately our Lifeguard of the Year, Jock Rosie wasn't able to attend the evening, as he is in the Navy and was in Vietnam at the time, but his family were there and accepted this prestigious award on his behalf.

'I'm sure when he returns to New Zealand he'll be looking forward to a luxurious night up on the hill.”

The weekend ended on the Monday after the club's AGM, which saw members welcome in new board chairman Spencer Raymond, and pay tribute to their sponsors and supporters.

The season begins again on Labour Weekend 2017, so in the meantime the lifeguards will be training, upskilling and furthering their lifeguard qualifications.

'We will run some training development camps over the winter months and then we will be back on patrol and keen to welcome in the summer come October 2017”

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

• Most Improved Junior Surf - Charli Tracey
• Junior Surf Sportsmanship Award under 8s - Sophie McCarthy
• Junior Surf Sportsmanship Award under 10s - Angus Ashley
• Junior Surf Sportsmanship Award under 12s - Jenna Veal
• Top Rookie - Hannah Cook
• Most Volunteer Hours - Ashleigh Pinner
• Bracken Cup for Instructor of the Year - Alex Rosie
• Smith Cup for Eastern Region Lifeguard of the Year - Stephanie Peploe
• Gibson Cup for Volunteer of the Year - Jenny Peploe
• Upjohn Cup for Patrol Captain of the Year - Daniel Gordon
• Peploe Cup for Junior Lifeguard of the Year - Ashleigh Pinner
• Alderman Cup for Intermediate Lifeguard of the Year - Jamie Lock
• Lifeguard of the Year 2017 - Jock Rosie

The Rosie family accepting the Lifeguard of the Year Award won by Jock Rosie during the club's annual prize giving on Easter Sunday.