By RON LANE
FOR Steve and Nikki Mawby of the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club, 8am Saturday 27 May 2013 is a date that will live in their minds forever.
It was on this day the first ever sessions for the newly formed Noosa Seahorse Nippers, a Nipper club to help children with special needs, took to the sands of Noosa’s Main Beach.
For the Mawbys this was indeed their brainchild.
The success of such a project would be something in which not only they, but their club, community and indeed the state of Queensland, could take great pride.
At about 4.30pm on the previous afternoon Steve chaired the first ever meeting of what was to become known as the Noosa Seahorse Nippers; and in doing so welcomed lifesavers, visitors and helpers and briefed them on the aims of the group and what lay ahead.
Steve said the Seahorse Nippers program was based on Pambula Surf Club members Michele and Peter Bootes’ concept.
Their reason for doing so, was that they themselves were parents of a child with special needs and after starting with just five children, built the program up to include 19 participants.
“We held our first ever beach session in January 2000,” Michele said.
“Initially our aim was to provide a modified beach/surf program for children who due to their problems could not pass the required pool swim.”
For Steve it all started back in 1979 when he joined the North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club in Sydney and obtained his bronze medallion.
Afterwards, Steve became heavily involved in surf sports with his main discipline being ski paddling and after marrying at Cronulla in 1988, Steve and Nikki shifted south to Thredbo in 1990.
On the weekends they would travel to Pambula Beach SLSC where Steve was then a patrolling member.
It was during this time that Steve and Nikki had their first ever look at lifesavers caring for special children; the project instigated by their clubmates Michele and Peter Bootes; and it was something the Mawbys were to remember.
In 2003 the Mawbys made the big move. With their two daughters Abbey and Kahla in tow they shifted to the Sunshine Coast and on arrival joined the Peregian Beach Surf Life Saving Club; their daughters followed along with mum and dad by joining the Peregian Nippers. In 2005 Steve transferred to the Noosa Club. On joining Noosa Steve continued to compete in ski events at local carnivals as well as fulfill his obligations as a patrolling member.
From 2006 to 2010 they kept busy spending their summer months running their ski lodge in Niseko, Japan. However June 2012 saw Steve move up the ladder and become fully obligated to the Noosa Club when he was appointed to the position of Finance Officer on the management committee.
All during this time the desire to help children in need still burned fiercely within the Mawbys. So it was that after months of research and planning with the relevant people, Steve presented a full and very comprehensive report to the management committee of the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club. They gave it total support; it was time to move.
On the evening of 26 May at the inaugural meeting, perhaps the most relevant statement came when the meeting was told, “Remember that these teenagers will have exactly the same feelings as regular teenagers, so be careful how you pair them up.
Watch for body language as this is often the first sign of stress. Keep instructions short and simple and above all be patient.”
Further to this Steve explained what the program would include. Events such as warm-up runs, stretching, beach flags (modified), ball games, wading races, body surfing, soft rescue boards and on calm days kayaking. All this he explained would be governed by weather conditions with qualified lifesavers supervising their every move.
All activities, the workers were told would be a ratio of one on one, lifesaver to child. However in the case of a wheelchair the ratio would increase to three to one.
On looking back over the years the Mawbys’ first meeting which was well attended and well briefed, was the launching pad that was to make this incredible project the success it is today.
It was obvious that the three components necessary for total success would be; a big workforce, family support and above, all happy children. Happily, all three evolved.
Regarding the outcome both Steve and Nikki agree: “What we have achieved is due largely to the massive support from people such as; Seahorse parents, young lifesavers from various clubs and organisations such as Fire and Rescue, the Floral Shirts, the Surf Club, Noosa Council and all aspects of media.
“Council’s support regarding the car park was incredible and the work of the lifesavers in the car park was massive. Regarding people, Dawn Fraser has been incredible and her rapport with the children has been great; also Jordan Mercer, another favorite with the kids.”
Of late another factor has come to Steve and Nikki’s attention regarding the children – Smart Pups.
With this new, “and expensive” factor being addressed, plus the massive spread of the Seahorse concept both local and interstate, it is easy to see why these two quite achievers have gained both the support and the respect of all with whom they come in contact. Proud to say, they’re Our People.
