By Ron Lane
WITH the commencement of the 2016/17 season of volunteer patrols on our Queensland beaches, all clubs will be under the watchful eye of new state president Mark Fife, OAM.
Mark’s appointment to office comes as a result of the retirement of serving President Ralph Devlin AM, QC.
Ralph, who also holds the distinction of being Life Member of Queensland Surf Life Saving, gave the state five years of good dedicated service; and for this we thank him most sincerely. He was one of the driving forces behind the recent, very successful Australian Surf Life Saving Titles hosted by his club Maroochydore.
Add to this, Ralph was last season awarded the highest honour in his club – Life Governor. So high is this award that the nomination can only be forwarded by club Life Members; for his years of dedication plus his Life Governorship, all the best in retirement.
Regarding Ralph’s successor, Mark started his career in 1975 when he joined and received his bronze medallion in Batemans Bay NSW.
Then in 1986 he saw the light and moved with his family to Queensland where he joined Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.
Like all new leaders he has set himself several goals. One in particular is good to hear, and that is, “to lead the SLSQ board and Council into a new era of Surf Life Saving.”
Regarding members, “Be yourself, be vigilant, keep up your fitness; and my door is always open. If you would like to have a chat just give me a call.”
One of the highlights of his career is being the only person to have ever won the Australian Lifesaver of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. To win one award is a great effort but to win both is indeed exceptional.
Last week Noosa competitors and families gathered in the courtyard for a barbecue to bond and herald in the new competition season.
In doing so the new President Ross Fisher took the opportunity to wish two members in particular all the best for the World Life Saving Championships to be held in the Netherlands.
“This is a rather unique situation,” said Ross. “It is the first time in our eighty-eight year history that we have a member, Jordie Mercer, representing Australia in the Open International Competition, and another, Grace Kahuia, despite being a member of Noosa, will represent her home country New Zealand in the Youth Section. We wish both girls the best of luck; and further to this, congratulations to Jordie on her win in the Molokai 2 Oahu World Paddle Board Championship. This win makes it six in a row.”
Noosa’s International Endurance Event sensation, 20-year-old Lachie Lansdown has done it again. Not only did he finish in second place for his division in the 32 mile Molokai 2 Oahu Paddle Board Race in Hawaii (in a time of 5 hrs. 12 min. 23 sec.) but then three weeks later he backed up to win the Stock division of the Catalina Classic Board Race California; also held over a distance of 32 miles. His time for this of 5 hours 32min 55 sec was a world record.
“I was very happy to win my division of the Catalina,” Lockie said. “In America this is big, with the tradition starting back in 1965 so I am stoked with the results.”
