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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-02-21 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

Watkins, Mr K.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD (Reynell—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: On Monday 13 February I was informed of the passing of Surf Life Saving South Australia's State President, Kevin Watkins—known as 'Brakey' to those who knew and loved him best.

Mr Watkins was an active surf lifesaving member for a remarkable 55 years having gained his Bronze Medallion in 1967 and immersed his life in the surf lifesaving movement.

He was a life member of his beloved Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, and a much celebrated surfboat sweep having won state and national medals and having represented South Australia on numerous occasions.

Mr Watkins was appointed as Surf Life Saving South Australia President on 26 May 2021, and has been instrumental in bringing the movement together promoting gender equality and fiercely embracing and working toward people being safe in South Australian waters.

His commitment and drive was highly regarded. In his professional life, Mr Watkins was also a successful business leader in registered training organisations. He was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of SA Health Education Centre, and more recently he was the State Manager SA and National VET Manager for Endeavour College of Natural Health.

Mr Watkins had served on a number of local and national boards and was exceptionally well respected. His dedication, excellence, passion, commitment and care was remarkable, and it will inspire generations to come to devote their time and energy to the surf lifesaving movement and to other causes in support of community.

I understand Kevin's long battle with illness did not stop him from continuing to be an active patrol member until the age of 70. His time spent actively patrolling spanned decades.

His extraordinary contribution and commitment to ensuring local people and visitors to South Australia can enjoy our magnificent South Australian beaches is a gift that will long be celebrated, as will his invaluable contributions as the President of Surf Life Saving South Australia over the past two years and his service through the Brighton Surf Life Saving Club.

Surf Life Saving SA has confirmed that Ms Sarah Cutbush, the current Vice President will become the Acting Surf Life Saving SA President until the board elections in May 2023. We wish her all the best and offer our support to her.

Mr Watkins was a true legend of surf lifesaving in South Australia and will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by many. I extend the sincere condolences of everyone in this place to Mr Watkins' wife, Sofie, children, Oskar and Ella, their family, friends and the entire surf lifesaving community at this very difficult time and in the years ahead.

Vale, Kevin Watkins. May you rest in peace.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): Just briefly, on indulgence, I wanted to add to the minister's contribution on the life of Kevin 'Brakey' Watkins. As a long-term member of Brighton Surf Life Saving Club myself, I knew Brakey exceptionally well; in fact, like many in the community that I am part of, we did not know he was ill at all, never mind in the last days of his life.

He was someone who continued to serve the local community, the Brighton community, his professional community in the health services and, of course, surf lifesaving as a movement as the state president until the very last hours of his life. He was well known to me at Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, seeing him on a regular basis either in the club or at the Seller Door, the local cafe that he would meet at at 7.30am after he had done the boat training out from the surf club.

He was kind. He was generous. He continually sought to invest in the youth movement within surf lifesaving and particularly women's involvement in the sport and in the institution. It is a great shame that his tenure as the State President of Surf Life Saving SA has been cut short, but in the relatively short period of time, just short of two years, that he has held that role, he has made an immense mark. Of course, with 55 years of involvement in the institution, he is a true giant of surf lifesaving in the state of South Australia.

Vale, Kevin 'Brakey' Watkins. You have caught your last wave, and may you rest in peace.

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