Water legend has earned our thanks

17.05.2010

WE are writing to share the
celebratory career achievements
of Peter Laing, former senior
lifeguard supervisor for Pittwater
Council.
In this day of career changes, it is
rare to hear of an individual who is
totally committed and passionate
about their employment for the
entirety of their service.
Peter Laing is one of those
rarities.
Since completing his first "time
swim" with Warringah Council at
age 17, while attaining a job as a
casual beach inspector with
Warringah Council, he has
maintained peak physical fitness
and ability in the surf that has won
him the respect of his professional
lifeguarding peers and members of
local surf-lifesaving clubs. At age
48 today he is still a true
waterman.
Although he has performed an
incredible number of rescues in
his 30 years of service, probably
the most notable involved the
12-year-old boy who became
caught in dire surf conditions off
North Avalon in 1995.
The sheer selfless courage and
commitment displayed by Peter in
negotiating the 12- to 15-foot
monstrous surf that day to rescue
the traumatised child was nothing
short of legendary.
In 1997 Peter was promoted to the
role of lifeguard supervisor in
Pittwater Council and his
commitment to his staff, the
community through his provision
and management of a premier beach
safety service and the advancement
of aquatic safety in the Pittwater
area has been supreme.
He was responsible for the
inclusion ofmodern, invaluable
lifesaving equipment on the
northern beaches along with the
development of a trainee lifeguard
program. On behalf of the
communities of Pittwater and
Warringah to whom you have
played such a vital and dedicated
role, we thank you and wish you all
the best for your future endeavours.

Joel Seaton and Mark Young,
former Pittwater Council
lifeguards