The Whiritoa Lifeguard Service (WLGS) committee was in dire straits and on the verge of a complete collapse after the Covid pandemic. Vicki was the last member standing on the previous Committee. It was Vicki who cajoled new members to stand for the committee which has under her stewardship resurrected itself and completely changed its culture. Vicki has a solid gold heart and has voluntarily dedicated her time and expertise to the WLGS without seeking personal gain. Her commitment and dedication to the WLGS's mission to keep people safe on the beach deserves recognition and appreciation.
Vicki plays a pivotal role in managing finances, ensuring compliance, and contributing to the Whiritoa LGS overall success. It is Vicki who has been responsible for the resurrection of the WLGS committee and shared her institutional knowledge with new members in their variety of roles. She has enabled them to get on and create change in their own roles more quickly than if Vicki had not made herself available. In essence it is Vicki's willingness to support the WLGS team whilst asking pertinent and appropriate questions and helping generate solutions that drives the need to recognise her contribution. In addition to this voluntary role as Finance director Vicki has also undertaken surf lifeguard training and completed the exam to qualify as an active lifeguard. This took particular commitment and time in addition to her voluntary role and while it is a milestone in itself it is also has provided great insight into the lifeguard role and this has bought extra value to Vicki's contribution.
Vicki's contribution will have a lasting impact on the organisation, influencing its financial stability and ability to achieve its mission for years to come.
Whiritoa Lifeguard Service
Without Vicki being the stalwart of the WLGS committee we wouldn't have a committee or potentially a club! With the resurrection of the committee now running the surf club the community now has a vibrant, committed team leading beach safety in Whiritoa. Vicki has been an essential cog in the wheel in the new committee and without her the situation would have been very different. All residents and beach users at Whiritoa are better off for her efforts and can now enjoy ongoing use of the clubs' facilities and safe access to a patrolled beach.
The impact of Vicki's contribution to WLGS is her vision and creation of a model that will achieve longstanding impact and stability in the years to come. She has not only ensured WLGS complies with financial regulations and legal requirements but has now also assumed Treasurer role for our Club Rebuild Committee, so she is now managing the Club's fundraising and resource generation and helping secure the necessary resources for the 50-year Club building project.
Vicki has also made a conscious effort to ensure that the Club and its Committee have instituted a framework to enable ongoing compliance with the requirements of the new Incorporated Societies Act, which will be key in making the Club robust and sustainable, allowing the ongoing provision of lifesaving volunteer services on a beach that at times can be dangerous.
With Vicki's involvement Club membership increased 19% last season, we have grown our Junior Surf activities by 22% and trained 6 adult lifeguards (one of whom is Vicki), which has dramatically increased the average age and life experience (!!) of our guards and also increased the number of guards available to provide lifeguard services in our community. The new Committee has been more widely involved in the national SLSNZ organisation and we have commenced an ambitious Club rebuild project. Vicki has been an integral part of these projects and the successes the Committee has had to date. Feedback from the new committee members is overwhelmingly appreciative of the professionalism she brings to roles in the club.
