Chris Veal is making a name for himself has a competitive lifesaver. 82127 Picture: MATHEW LYNN
By XAVIER SMERDON
A WERRIBEE teenager with a passion for improving safety around water has been recognised for his achievements.
Chris Veal, 18, is a member of the South Melbourne Lifesaving club and participates in an elite training squad through Lifesaving Victoria.
Last month he was the recipient of a Mayoral Youth Award as recognition of the hard work he has put in over the last five years since he has been a competitive lifesaver.
“It was really good because even though you don’t do it in the local community they still recognised my achievements,” Chris said.
Chris is the current Victorian Pool Lifesaving Champion and later this month he will travel to Alice Springs to take part in the Short Course Championships as part of the Australian team.
To add to his already long list of goals in the sport, in April Chris travelled to the Philippines to help improve the country’s high rate of drownings.
“They have a 95 per cent higher rate of drowning than Australia,” he said.
“We went over there to help them out with their initiatives and see what else could be done.”
While Chris is recognised as an elite member of his sport, he said he enjoyed it more because of the social aspects.
“The people that you meet are great and I love getting to travel to all different places with them,” he said.
As part of the Mayoral Youth Award Chris won $500 which he said will help him get to Alice Springs.
