Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club’s Craig Mackinnon has been named Official of the Year at the 2026 Surf Life Saving Tasmania Awards of Excellence, recognising his dedication, commitment and contribution to officiating in surf life saving.

For Mackinnon, the award was an incredible honour, but his motivation for officiating has always been much simpler; being on the beach, building friendships and playing a role in supporting athletes to perform at their best.

“I’m incredibly proud. As I said there on stage, it's an incredible honour,” Mackinnon said.

“But for me, I'm not in it for that side of it. I love just being on the beach, making great friends. And the best part is watching some of the best athletes do their thing at the highest level, so it's great.”

Officiating has given Mackinnon a front-row seat to some of the sport's biggest moments, particularly at the Australian Championships, where he gets to witness the culmination of months of hard work and training from some of the country's best athletes.

“You get a front row seat, especially at the Australian Championships, to have the best of the best go around and that's great,” he said.

“You get to see all the effort they put in for training all year round, for them to excel at the highest level, and you're there. 

“Yes, you're doing a job, but at the end of the day, you just get to watch them do their best.”

While the athletes are at the heart of the competition, Mackinnon said the friendships built among officials are another rewarding part of being involved in the sport.

“With the athletes, you show incredible bonds, but then it's the other officials that you get to work with. They've got some lasting friendships through that,” he said.

The award recognises not only Mackinnon's hours of dedication as an official, but the passion and camaraderie that continues to drive his involvement in surf life saving.

The win secured Mackinnon a nomination at the 2026 Surf Life Saving Australia Awards of Excellence for Official of the Year.

We wish Craig the best of luck in the category. The award winners will be announced on Saturday 7 November 2026.