Mt Eliza teen’s passion for surf lifesaving reaps the rewards
At just 15 years old Reagan Morel is a champion lifesaver. His collection of awards is growing fast, but it’s his desire to help the next generation that’s capturing attention.
South East
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Chubby and slow are not words normally associated with a champion lifesaver.
But Reagan Morel cheerfully uses them to describe his early years as a Nipper.
“I couldn’t run. I was always begging to get into the water,” he said.
“It’s funny how things work out. Now I love the land disciplines. The beach sprint is my thing.”
So much so that the Mt Eliza teen won the event in the U14 category at the 2018 Victorian Junior Lifesaving Championships held earlier this year in Warrnambool.
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He was also part of Mornington Life Saving Club’s gold medal winning U14 Boys Beach Relay and U14 Boys Cameron Relay.
Parents Richard and Jo Morel said Reagan’s win in the individual event was even more surprising given a recent health scare.
“Just a couple of months before the titles he was in hospital having some pretty serious surgery around his heart,” Jo said.
“We didn’t know if he would be back training last season, let alone competing.”
Reagan spent two weeks in hospital last September after developing an infection between his lung and heart.
“He’s a tough cookie,” said Richard. “He was back in action before the end of the year.”
The family lives on the beach in summer.
Richard has his Bronze Medallion and is an active patrol member and Jo also volunteers as a first aid instructor.
“Last summer was great. Reagan had his SRC (Surf Rescue Certificate) so we could patrol together. Jo was often out there with us too,” he said.
Watching Reagan patrolling the bay was a proud moment for Jo.
“I used to come to the beach with my mothers’ group when he was a baby,” she said.
“We’d sit on the sand and chat and I’d often see kids in the water in their club gear.
“I remember thinking ‘What a great initiative’.
“As soon as Reagan was old enough we enrolled him in Nippers.”
“He wasn’t exactly a star,” Richard said.
“He always came last. But he always had a smile on his face.”
The club quickly became an important network for the family.
“We moved to the Peninsula from Perth for Rich’s job in the Navy,” Jo said.
“All our family including Reagan’s grandparents on both sides are still in WA.
“Reagan is also an only child so it was important to us that he had the chance to mix with other kids of different ages.
“He has a surrogate family here at the club. Older life members have become like grandparents to him and his best mate is still another boy he met through Nippers.
“And we were never short of a babysitter when he was younger!”
Giving back to the club that has become his second home is important to Reagan.
In addition to patrolling, he is also involved in youth coaching.
“It is a paid position but I do it because it’s a chance for me to give back to the community,” Reagan said.
“If I can help people learn the skills I have and encourage them to pass them on, the water will be safer for everyone.”
His community spirit was recognised in August when he was named the Mike Martin AM Champion Junior Lifesaver as part of Life Saving Victoria’s Award for Excellence.
“Part of the reason why he won the award was because of his efforts to help other people, both on and off the beach,” Jo said.
“He is involved in a number of charity events, raising money to help those less fortunate than himself and is always looking for ways to include other people and make them feel welcome.”
Richard said keeping older kids engaged in lifesaving was hard.
“There’s a big drop off when they get to 16 and 17,” he said.
But Reagan doesn’t think it will be an issue for him.
“I can’t imagine my life without lifesaving,” he said.
“I think it will always be something I’m involved in.
“I can already picture myself competing in the Masters when I’m old.”
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