Wednesday 28 October 2026
Recognised for her commitment to patrolling, surf sports and her local community, Clifton Beach Surf Life Saving Club’s Oenone Schofield was crowned Young Surf Lifesaver of the Year at the 2026 Surf Life Saving Tasmania Awards of Excellence.
Schofield said she was honoured to be recognised, and saw the award as a chance to shine a light on the club and the movement she loves.
“I was pleased and honoured to be nominated by the club. Clifton Beach is a great club and SLS is such a great organisation, so I was very excited about the opportunity to promote surf lifesaving,” she said.
Schofield’s surf lifesaving journey began in the Under 13s at Nippers, where a shared love of sport and the beach drew her and her sister to the club. Starting later than many of her peers, she admits the early days weren’t easy.
“At first it was hard to stay on the board, let alone keep up with everyone,” she said.
“But I stuck at it because every Sunday Nippers was a whole lot of fun, and everyone at the club welcomed our family enthusiastically.”
That welcome has stayed with her. Now training alongside the club’s senior athletes, Schofield said the culture at Clifton Beach is what keeps her coming back.
“Training with such a large group of athletes who all push each other to be better every session creates a friendly and positive environment to be in,” she said.
“In recent years the club’s senior competitive team has grown, and I think this is largely due to the culture of club pride and teamwork that our coaches have developed. The environment is very inclusive, and the impact of this spreads through surf sports, patrols and all aspects of the club.”
For Schofield, being a surf lifesaver comes down to one word: opportunity.
“Being a surf lifesaver has given me so much opportunity to develop, from competing and training, to building skills and leadership, and a chance to give back to my community,” she said.
Above all, she said the movement has taught her the value of community, with the long-standing members and lasting connections at her club showing her that volunteering gives back as much as it gives.
“The longevity you see in so many of the members and the connections made has shown me how volunteering in surf lifesaving is as much a benefit to myself as it is to the whole community.”
With university in Hobart on the horizon, Schofield plans to keep surf lifesaving at the centre of her life, both as an outlet and as a way to give more to her club. She is looking forward to growing in her role as patrol captain, moving into training and assessing, and expanding her involvement in community education.
“Safe beaches start with community education, and I see myself extending my involvement with this over the next couple of years,” she said.
Having recently earned her IRB driver qualification, she is also keen to spend more time on the water.
“Getting my IRB drivers was such a buzz, so I’m looking forward to more time on the water.”
The award has also earned Schofield a nomination for Young Lifesaver of the Year at the 2026 Surf Life Saving Australia Awards of Excellence, with winners set to be announced on Saturday 7 November 2026.