And it’s little wonder why, because everyone knows the danger of what lurks beneath.

Now, the talented teenager from Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club, has taken like a duck to water and was recently awarded the Mid North Coast Junior Life Saver of the Year.

He admitted to being surprised at winning the award, which was presented at the branch carnival at Hat Head on the weekend, but felt he had come a long way since the scared eight-year-old who rarely ventured out past the breakers.

“We used to live in Sydney so we weren’t really near any beaches or anywhere,” he said.

“As soon as you can’t touch the bottom it’s scary, but the more you do it the better you get.

“We moved here when I was five, and then I went into the under 6s for nippers and we got into it there and kept going and got to under 8s when I had to go and do the swim.”

It was there where his fear of the beach and the ocean came to the fore, he said.

“I freaked out because I couldn't get out around those buoys and I was so scared of the waves at that time – I thought they were huge, but looking back they were only really small – and then I got over my fear (of the ocean) in about under 11s.”

The humble teenager said the other finalists “were probably better than me, so I was really surprised to get it.”

“But it felt great, my heart was racing so much and I was just nervous because I was there with everyone.”

Now, Gill wouldn’t rather be anywhere else than on the beach, whether that’s competing, or performing his surf patrols with Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Club.

“The thing is you save people’s lives and I’m only 14 so I can’t get a full-time job yet, but I’m still on the beach helping people so that’s the best part,” he said.

“I see myself as a bit of a role model to the younger kids like the under-6s cos they’re the next generation so you’ve got to be good with them and teach them.”

Wauchope-Bonny Hills president Phil Kaufmann said the nomination process was quite a lengthy one.

“Clubs nominate two people under 14 and then they look at what they do with the club,” he said.

It was more than just their ability in the water.

“They’re got to have good skills, and be involved in the club in a lot of different ways,” Kaufmann said.

“Once they get beyond that, it’s a detailed process and the interview is a little bit like your first job interview.

“It’s pretty stressful for the kids.”

Gill is taking the award seriously and with respect.

“It’s an honour to represent the Mid North Coast  branch, and I hope I can be a good role model for the younger kids,” he said.

Wauchope-Bonny Hills other representative in the Junior Life Saver of the Year nomination was Keira Alchin.

Two representatives from Camden Haven Surf Life Saving Club were Jacob Worton and Jorja Miller.

Kye, who lives at Bonny Hills, will head to the Northern Beaches in Sydney during the April school holidays to compete against 13 other juniors for the New South Wales title.

He will be interviewed and there will be leadership activities to find the best junior lifesavers, one male, one female, across the state.

Leanne Goggin, junior education development co-ordinator with Wauchope Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club says Kye has been involved with the club since he was very young.

“Kye is a quiet, competent, very reliable member of our surf club.  He helps fundraise where he can.  He’s a role model for the younger kids. He’s very fit and keen, and great on the boards and swims to do those rescues,” she said.

Kye is a still water swimmer, and an open-water swimmer.  His younger sister, Siena, is also a club member.

Leanne says it’s always tough choosing just one boy and one girl from the club.

“We are encouraging these kids. There are leadership opportunities for them. They’re community-minded kids. They’re giving up their weekends to patrol the beaches,” she said.