Each year Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue (SC SAR) presents the Top Pick Award to a member who has given a lot to the group over the previous year.  This year the award was given posthumously to Eileen Bonaguro for her tireless dedication towards training, especially first aid.  Each SC SAR member must be trained in first aid and Eileen not only taught the first aid courses to our members on a yearly basis but was also there to coach us on first aid on virtually every practice we had as well.  She was a wonderful leader, friend, instructor, and mentor. 

She will be greatly missed. 

Accepting the Top Pick Award from honourary past chairman, Harry Almond, at the recent SC SAR annual dinner on her behalf was Sheree Haydu, vice chair of SC SAR.  Just prior to accepting the Award, Haydu read out a letter of thanks from Eileen’s two children, Janet and Russell both of whom were unable to attend due to work commitments.

Previous recipients of the Award were: Bill Lawson (2000), Harry Almond (2001), Sue Duxbury (2002), Robert Allen (2003), Rod Moorcroft and Megan O’Donnell (2004), Peter Ronning (2005), Alec Tebutt (2006), Stephanie Read (2007), Jim Janke (2008), Eileen Bonaguro (2009), Jim Janke and Mike MacKown (2010), Sheree Haydu (2011).

- Submitted by Robert Allen, Publicity Director, Sunshine Search and Rescue.  604-740-1600.