Bilgoman Aquatic Centre manager Chris Blankley was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal from Royal Life Saving at a ceremony this month.
The award recognises Mr Blankley’s 13-year service as an Endorsed Swim School Co-ordinator at the Centre, as well as his work as a lifeguard, Bronze Medallion and Senior First Aid trainer and examiner.
‘I was taken by surprise by the award but felt very humbled,’ Mr Blankley said.
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READ NOW‘The ultimate aim is to help train employees to be the best they can be while working at our pools so they have all the necessary skills should an incident occur.’
Mr Blankley said the water safe message still needed to be a top priority for pool users.
He is one of three representatives from Leisure Institute of WA Aquatics (LIWA) selected to travel to the 2013 World Conference on Drowning Prevention in October.
LIWA will present the Watch Around Water program to the conference.
‘The program encourages parents to watch their children around water,’ Mr Blankley said.
‘It began in 2004 and since then we’ve had 100 million visitors to public pools with no deaths.’
The Shire of Mundaring supports Mr Blankley to attend training and conferences as part of his professional development.