Surf Life Saving Tasmania (SLST) celebrated the achievements of its members across the 2025/26 season at its annual Awards of Excellence on Saturday, August 15 at the Paranaple Convention Centre in Devonport.
The awards recognise the dedication, achievements and contribution of members of the surf lifesaving community across Tasmania.
Among the night’s major winners was Blackmans Bay resident and Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving Club member Matilda ‘Tilly’ Dalco, who was named Tasmania’s Surf Life Saver of the Year.
Tilly, 21, has been part of the Kingston Beach club since joining nippers and has become a much-loved member of the club community, known for her infectious energy and commitment to surf lifesaving.
During summer, she serves as a patrol captain, leading a team of lifesavers on Kingston Beach.
She is also the club’s first aid officer, a state peer-support officer, an educator in lifesaving and an age manager for the club’s youngest nippers – a role she enjoys undertaking each Sunday alongside her sister.
Tilly received the prestigious award from a strong field of lifesavers from across Tasmania and will now represent Kingston Beach and the state at the National Awards of Excellence in Sydney in November.
“Surf lifesaving is full of the most amazing volunteers and people I look up to every day, so I feel very grateful and honoured to receive this award among so many other legends around Tassie,” Tilly said.
