The cheek and confidence of Penguin's junior surf lifesavers does not come from knowing their club just won a major award.
Club president Allison Kable says they are always this happy to be training and to be in the sea.
"They're pretty energetic kids that we have here, so all this noise is a pretty regular feature," she said, as a squadron of squeaking juniors sprints past and head-long into approaching waves.
Penguin was named club of the year at this month's Surf Life Saving Australia National Awards.
It recognised the club's ability to reinvigorate itself in recent years in the face of changing times and ageing stalwarts.
The club has boosted patrol numbers, boat-ready members and community engagement by re-opening its clubrooms — overlooking beautiful Preservation Bay — to groups and activities as varied as yoga and tap-dancing.
There is much pride about the award on the beach, but Ms Kable believed the extra spring in the step of members was more about the simple act of coming together as a group after a difficult pandemic-affected year.
"All up we have 174 members, from nippers, who are four or five, all the way up to our most senior member, Ken Knight, who is 87," she said.
"With COVID-19, it was pretty hard having to lock it all up and lock people out of the club.
"We were lucky, though, that we put a lot of work into our COVID-safe plan during lockdown so that we could get our members back in.
"It's much more than a surf club, it's a critical community support mechanism.
"But, you know, Ken's back now and he's straight back into the gym at 87."
Another achievement for the club came in the form of an individual award for Nicholas Canales, who was named Tasmanian Surf Lifesaver of the Year and also a finalist for the national award.
The 21-year-old boat crew member had taken on the key roles of lifesaving manager and chief instructor in the past year.
"Last year the under-23 boat crew won the open division state title, but the award I won is more about dedication to the organisation and what we do together as a club, really," Mr Canales said.
"It's a reflection of the club and also of surf life saving in Tasmania.
"Our club is very family and community orientated. It's quite a positive environment, especially for the young fellas coming through."
