North Bondi teen’s service to her surf club recognised with Junior Sports Star nomination

MOST teenagers struggle to do the minimum 25 patrol hours required to compete in Surf Life Saving Australia events, but North Bondi’s Caitriona O’Leary more than tripled it.

Surf Life saver Cat O'Leary-17, from North Bondi SLSC, was named U17 Life saver of the year at the Surf Life saving Sydney Branch awards. Picture: John Appleyard

MOST teenagers struggle to do the minimum 25 patrol hours required to compete in Surf Life Saving Australia events, but North Bondi’s Caitriona O’Leary more than tripled it.

The 17-year-old was named Lifesaver of the year at the Sydney Surf Life Saving Branch awards last month, also earning her a nomination in the Junior Sports Star Awards.

Surf Life saver Cat O'Leary from North Bondi SLSC, was named U17 Life saver of the year. Picture: John Appleyard

She was nominated by North Bondi Surf Club in the service to sport category which is awarded to an individual club member or volunteer who shows passion, spirit and determination.

Her milestone of 60 recorded patrol hours is even more outstanding considering she is currently studying in her HSC year at SCEGGS Darlinghurst, with ambitions to be come a vet.

As well as patrol hours, she put in at least 20 more hours on educating herself and training others.

“I compete and train, but I also do a lot of the lifesaving stuff,” the Bondi resident said.

“So I did my gold medallion this year, silver medallion, my first aid final course, trainers course so I can teach the bronze and surf rescue certificate.”

She admitted the start of the year was challenging, blending the end of the surf life saving year with the start of her final year at school.

“It was a bit full on at times, I wanted to keep it up, the main thing that took a lot of time was training. O was literally doing that every day, it was difficult, but I wanted to finish off the season and do what I wanted to do and at the same time, keeping up with school was a bit difficult.”

Not only is she a committed volunteer, but she was also in the march past squad that took out the gold medal at the Australian Titles held on the Gold Coast in April.

The Junior Sports Star awards are sponsored by Rebel and Channel 7 News is the major media partner.