Cowaramup surfer lands Young Achiever of the Year

Cowaramup athlete and local resident Macklin Flynn was awarded the Cowaramup Community Mens Shed (CCMS) Young Achiever Award 2025 at the Australia Day Breakfast hosted by the Lions Club of Cowaramup on Sunday.

Flynn was recognised for a long list of recent achievements both in his chosen sport of surfing as well as community and academic efforts.

The hardworking local has spent countless hours helping other young surfers in and out of the water, while furthering his own career.

Flynn completed Year 12 at Margaret River Senior High School in 2024, as well as a Cert II – Sports Coaching & Recreation, Community Surf Rescue Certificate, and completed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Basic Emergency Life Support and First Aid training.

He has had an enormous year of success in the surf, currently the highest ranked Western Australian Male surfer (10th) for the World Surf League Qualifying Series Australasia and helping Margaret River claim the Under 19 Boys title at the Australian Junior National Surfing Titles 2024.

Flynn also volunteers as coach for the Margaret River SHS Surf Academy Program, mentoring students from Years 7 to 10, and is a volunteer coach for the Australian National Junior Surfing Titles held in Wollongong, NSW.

He is a passionate member of the South West surfing community, acting as panel judge for the Cowaramup Bay Boardriders Club events.

He received the $500 annual prize on Sunday, which is sourced from a fund set up in memory of longterm Mens Shed and Cowaramup community supporter, Kevan Gray.

Flynn’s name will join five other high-achieving Cowaramup youths on an Honour Board at the Mens Shed.

The Young Achiever Award is set to run for at least the next five years and interest from Cowaramup young people up to the age of 21 is always welcome.

Further information is available through the CCMS (email gen@ccms.org.au).