Double Joy for Coastguard

Coastguard Lake Taupo are rolling on a high after being recognised at a national level for their hard work. 

After winning Unit of the Year and Communications and Incident Management Volunteer of the Year awards at a regional level, they managed to follow both of those awards up with another double at the National Coastguard Awards of Excellence gala. 

Coastguard Taupo volunteer Donald Scott was the winner of the Coastguard Communications and Incident Management Volunteer of the Year Award. 

He said he ‘‘didn’t think’’, he was going to win the award again. 

As an active Coastguard volunteer Scott was recognised due to his role as the leader of Lake Taupo’s Incident Management Team, and to build a multi-agency Incident Management team. 

President of Coastguard Taupo Gary West said they ‘‘were really hoping he [would] get his’’. 

‘‘He has written radio procedures, is the duty officer for callouts for the Lakes District and assisted in the writing of the Incident Management manual for Coastguard New Zealand.’’ West also praised the unit for winning the Coastguard Unit of the Year national award. 

“This National award is a tribute to our volunteers who work so hard spending so many hours to make our unit the best it possibly can be. 

‘‘We would like to acknowledge our sponsor, Mighty River Power, and subscribing members, without whose support we would not be able to function,’’ he said

Taupo Times, 26 September 2014