Surfer and mountain biker Blake Polverino has put in the hard yards on duty and been recognised for saving lives.
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He is the Port Macquarie-Hastings Lifeguard of the Year for 2019.
The sandy beach sentinel graciously admitted that the award could really have gone to any of his fellow lifesavers along the Mid-North Coast during the 2018 to 2019 season.
"It's pretty cool, but I think it could really go to any of the lifeguards working in town," said Mr Polverino.
"Everyone does a great job. This year was pretty good, and we had less major incidents than previous years.
"I think it helps just being kind of diligent and focused, being able to think through scenarios on-the-fly, and make decisions.
"I try to be approachable and happy; people aren't going to come up to an angry person."
This year is the 25-year-old's third one as a seasonal lifeguard at Town Beach in Port Macquarie.
He has also spent five years on duty as a casual lifeguard.
The Port Macquarie local originally attended MacKillop College, St Paul's High School in Port Macquarie and isn't going anywhere in 2020.
"The best part of the job is just being out at the beach everyday, it's a pretty good office," he said.
"There's different things happening all the time and you can never predict what will happen or when.
"I should be back next season."
Mr Polverino has also been nominated as Lifeguard of the Year for the annual Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence in Sydney on August 31.
Both the state and national honours were won in 2018 by his boss, Port Macquarie-Hastings lifeguard supervisor James Turnham.
"That's pretty cool and it's a bit of an honour," said Mr Polverino.
"I think there's plenty of good lifeguards around the state who deserve nominations, so it's good to be considered.
"I think what differentiated me from other guards was when James went away, I was able to step into his role as supervisor.
"It was nice to do something different. There's less time on the beach and more around town looking after all the beaches."
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