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Darren Chester praises Lakes Entrance Surf Life Saving Club 2025–26 awards and volunteersDarren Chester congratulated Lakes Entrance Surf Life Saving Club members at the 2025–26 awards, praising volunteers for lifesaving service, youth development, leadership and vital contribution to tourism and community safety. By news@gippsland - 19th May 2026 - Back to News Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has congratulated Surf Lifesaving Lakes Entrance club members for ‘developing great Australians’ at the club’s 2025-26 season awards nights. Mr Chester spoke after the club welcomed three new life members and recognised the achievements by club members in a wide range of areas. 
Federal Member for Gippsland with teenage club member Charli Richardson who completed the most patrol hours for the season. Charli volunteered for 217 hours on the beach last summer Surf lifesaving praisedMr Chester said, "Surf lifesaving clubs across Australia offer the best youth development program in our nation by giving young people the skills to assist in an emergency and trusting them to take on leadership roles at an early age. They teach teamwork, resilience and selflessness which are values the young people take with them for the rest of their lives." "The volunteers at Lakes Entrance provide a service which would be impossible for governments to afford.
"Providing a patrolled beach is critical for the tourism industry and adds enormous economic value to our town. On behalf of the wider community, I want to thank everyone for their dedication, resilience and determination to provide outstanding service." "From teenagers through to active members over 60 years old, the surf club movement relies on men and women of all ages to patrol the beaches, train new lifesavers and administer the organisation. It’s a great team effort and I want to congratulate everyone who has been recognised with an award," Mr Chester said. Pictures from Darren Chester MP website.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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