\nHe moved quickly along the rock shelf and dived into the treacherous surf conditions, rescuing the young girl who was struggling to stay above the rough water. Mick, joined by another lifeguard (Luke Kelly), held onto her and navigated the large swell to return her to the safety of shore and her frantic family.
\n
![\"Mick-Body-presented-with-the-APOLA-Meritorious-Service-Award-by-Lord-Mayor-Nuatali-Nelmes.JPG\"](\"https:\/\/www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au\/getattachment\/Council\/News\/Latest-News\/City-lifeguard-s-courageous-service-recognised-wit\/Mick-Body-presented-with-the-APOLA-Meritorious-Service-Award-by-Lord-Mayor-Nuatali-Nelmes.JPG\" "\\"Mick-Body-presented-with-the-APOLA-Meritorious-Service-Award-by-Lord-Mayor-Nuatali-Nelmes.JPG\\"")
\nIt is this display of courage, professionalism and experience that has earned the City of Newcastle Lifeguard an Australian Professional Ocean (APOLA) Lifeguard Association Meritorious Service Award, the highest accolade in the profession.
\nMick, who has worked as a professional lifeguard for almost 20 years said he was honoured to receive the National Award and to be recognised for doing a job he loves and is passionate about.
\n\u201cIt was a surprise, but definitely an honour to be recognised with this award,\u201d Mr Body said.
\n\u201cDuring large swells waves engulf the Canoe Pool and then bounce off the side of the ocean baths creating a strong side wash which catches people by surprise. I\u2019m pleased our rescue that day avoided an almost certain drowning.
\n\u201cAs lifeguards we have the best office in the world. Every day is new and that is exciting. The beauty of working on the beach is that we are ambassadors for our city and meet people from all over who come here to enjoy themselves.\u201d
\nCity of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes praised Mick\u2019s quick-thinking and lifesaving action.
\n\u201cOur lifeguards provide an absolutely invaluable service to our community and regularly go beyond the call of duty to keep our community safe,\u201d the Lord Mayor said.
\n\u201cWithout Mick\u2019s bravery, advanced skills and knowledge of the beach, the outcome would have certainly been a tragic one.
\n\u201cI\u2019m proud that this incredible effort has been acknowledged on a national stage and I thank all of our lifeguards for their daily acts of kindness, bravery and courage.
\n\u201cEach surf season City of Newcastle lifeguards save on average 100 lives and perform more than 15,000 preventative actions as more than one million people visit local beaches.
\n\u201cLifeguards are extremely proactive when it comes to taking preventative measures. This can include asking surfers to surf outside the flagged area to urging beach goers to swim between the red and yellow flags instead of near dangerous rips.
\n\u201cWhen prevention fails, it can often take just split seconds for swimmers to find trouble and the same time for lifeguards to act.\u201d
\nCity of Newcastle has also been recognised by APOLA for continuing to deliver its Water Safety Education Program to local young people and the City\u2019s multicultural community during COVID. The program is presented by City Newcastle\u2019s lifeguards and teaches fundamental water safety skills and preventative measures.
\nThe face-to-face program, which has run for 52 years, targets primary school students and works with the Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre and University of Newcastle Language Centre.
\nBy developing an adapted COVID-safe program, City of Newcastle Lifeguards were still able to virtually reach 14,000 primary students in the Newcastle ensuring the community was able to receive vital information that may prevent drownings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"