The Beach Christmas campaign has won the North Coast Branch of the Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA) the Ministers Award for the Most Significant Contribution to Water Safety by an Organisation at the NSW Water Safety Awards.

North Coast Branch president Kerry Clancy accepted the award recently in Sydney.

“It was very exciting to be named the winner and to have the efforts of local lifesavers and everyone at the plaza recognised,” Kerry said.

“It was a great campaign and the contribution of the Park Beach Plaza was invaluable.”

Kerry said the one-off campaign was started by Santa Claus arriving at the Park Beach Plaza in a surf boat, and lifesavers being on hand every weekend in the run up to Christmas to answer water safety queries and to help shoppers carry purchases to their cars.

“But central to it all was the sand modelling activities that were targeted to children visiting the plaza,” Kerry said.

“While the kids were engaged in the sand modelling we were able to ram home the water safety message very effectively to not only them, but also the other members of their family.

“A special water safety wraparound produced by the Coffs Coast Independent was another crucial element of the campaign and which I believe helped us win the award.”