Top honour for Swimming New Zealand tutor

A long time tutor for Swimming New Zealand has been awarded with a top honour from the Commonwealth Life Saving Society.

Marie Baker, of Wanganui, has been made an Honorary Vice President of the Commonwealth Life Saving Society in a special presentation last month which was also attended by a UK representative of Commonwealth Life Saving.

This is the highest honour that anyone throughout the Commonwealth Royal Life Saving Society can be awarded.

Her award recognised the work she has done for the organisation in New Zealand, in particular after the Christchurch earthquakes when their headquarters were destroyed and her efforts to help get them back up and running.

Baker has tutored over 100 SNZ courses since she began tutoring for SNZ in 1994.

Baker received her very first Royal Life Saving award in 1959, and has been an active member and trainer since then and is now the President of Royal Life Saving in New Zealand.

SNZ Education Advisor Cecilie Elliott was in Wanganui last week and presented Baker with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of SNZ in recognition of her award and to acknowledge her commitment to swim teaching over the years.