When the President’s Award winner was announced at the 2024 Surf Life Saving Tasmania Awards of Excellence, most people in the room weren’t the least bit surprised.

It was the exact opposite for Jesse Beveridge who was given the honour before a shopping list of achievements was read out to the hundreds in attendance.

“I sure was a bit rattled when [SLST President] Stuart [Paine] announced the winner of this year’s President’s Award,” said Jesse. “One minute I was sitting back relaxing, thinking how great it is to not be nominated for any Awards, not having to think about a speech, and the next I’m scrambling to put my jacket back on and march up to the stage!

“I really am appreciative of receiving the Award however I do feel like it’s the tight knit groups that keep the emergency side of Surf Life Saving Tasmania going.”

Jesse has been a member of Port Sorell SLSC since 2005, and over the last two decades has moved through various positions at his club.

However the areas he sees as having a big impact for SLST now and into the future is in Flood and Swift Water Rescue (FSWR) and the Duty Officers areas.

“It’s where I feel I can make the biggest impact in helping our community through hard times,” said Jesse. “Surf Life Saving Tasmania really is leading the nation at the moment with the Centre of Excellence in FSWR and I am proud to be a part of the driving force behind that.

“It really does come down to the core group who continue to push this space forward and learn from our experience in deployments to better the training for everyone.”

Jesse is currently looking after Lifesaving at Port Sorell SLSC which oversees all areas of operations locally as well as taking on the role of team leader of our emergency response team.

Within SLST Jesse is a team leader for FSWR, a regional Duty Officer, a Rescue Services Advisory Committee member, part of Port Sorell’s Emergency Response team and when he has any time left he helps service and maintain the state’s communications network.

Despite being arguably the busiest person in Tasmania, Jesse is showing no signs of slowing down and wants to continue working in an area he holds a passion.

“I would like to continue to work within the Lifesaving and Rescue Services departments at SLST,” he said, “and hopefully supporting other members in mentoring them into leadership and emergency response roles.”

It is not the first time Jesse has been recognised for his wide-ranging contribution to the community, having already been named Young Citizen of the Year by Latrobe Council.