Dr Kevin Moran becomes an MLC Honorary Life Member

Mediterranean 23.04.2024. The Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation (MLC) proudly announces that the waterman, Dr Kevin Moran ONZM (New Zealand), became an MLC Honorary Life Member.

Dr Kevin Moran Kevin is a retired Principal Lecturer and Honorary Academic in Physical Education at the Faculty of Education, The University of Auckland. Kevin has had a lifelong commitment to drowning prevention as a lifeguard, researcher, and educator. He has been a frontline surf lifeguard for over 60 years, still currently patrolling one of New Zealand’s rugged west coast beaches at Muriwai, near Auckland where he has been awarded Life Membership. In 2010 he was awarded a Distinguished Service Award by Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Surf Life Saving Northern. In August 2023, he was awarded Life Membership by Surf Life Saving Northern. Most recently, in September 2023, he was awarded Life Membership and a 50-year Service Badge by Surf Life Saving New Zealand. Professional positions include: member of the International Advisory Committee for the WHO 2014 Drowning Report; member of the International Lifesaving Federation (ILS) Research and Information Committee; Co-chair of the International Task Force on Open Water Drowning Prevention; foundation member of the New Zealand Drowning Prevention Council, and Foundation Chairman of Watersafe Auckland Inc (WAI) from 1994-2012. He is currently a Board member of Drowning Prevention Auckland and was awarded Life Membership in 2016. In 2014 he was awarded the Water Safety New Zealand Award for his “outstanding contribution to water safety” and the 2014 Irish Medal by the Lifesaving Foundation in international recognition of “his exceptional contribution to the saving of lives from drowning.” He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year’s Honours list 2015 for “services to water safety”. He is the author of two books on water safety and drowning prevention, has published 90+ papers in international journals, and presented 70+ papers at more than 20 international conferences in the last decade. 

 

Moran, commented about his recognition: "It is with great pleasure and humility that I accept the offer of Honorary Life Membership of the Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation. As a volunteer lifeguard with over 60 years’ experience and still taking part in patrol duties at Auckland’s rugged west coast beach at Muriwai, I greatly value the fellowship and camaraderie associated with being a lifeguard at all levels - local, national, and international. We have a saying in New Zealand Surf Life Saving that is “In it for life”, suggesting that we are involved not only in the saving of lives but also that the lifesaving commitment is lifelong among us. Long may this be so. May I take this opportunity to heartily endorse the work that your organisation is undertaking in drowning prevention in the Mediterranean Sea. Your work has been increasingly more demanding in recent years and reinforces the need for frontline expertise that your lifesavers provide to increasing numbers of local beachgoers, international tourists, and refugees whose lives are routinely threatened in the open water environment!"

 

The MLC President, Giorgio Quintavalle and the MLC Secretary General, Dr Stathis Avramidis, said on this occasion: “Kevin Moran is one of the rare individuals that has excelled as physical educator, academic, lifesaver, scholar, and athlete for so many decades and so successfully. He is always keen to help whenever asked. He is a well-respected authority across the world. The MLC is extremely pleased to enlist him among our finest honorary members!”