By Ron Lane
Last weekend three of our local clubs gave us an outstanding example of what life in the Noosa Community is all about; and just what we can achieve when we forget our differences and work, though independently, for the good of others.
The three to which I refer are the Dolphins Rugby Union Club, Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club (Noosa’s Old Boys Group) and the Pirates Rugby League Club; and the reason they deserve special mention is that starting Friday and going through to Saturday these three clubs gave their time and energy to charitable organisations of their choosing.
In our local football codes – Pirates and Dolphins – the raising of funds necessary to enable them to provide what is necessary to continue, is a never-ending exercise.
For the Surf Club – a much bigger organisation – the matter of finance (being a rescue organisation with massive insurance problems) also exists but not to the same extent.
However the one common problem for all three is, and always will be, providing the manpower which will enable them to achieve their goal on any chosen day.
Within our community, the two notable days of charity started on Friday when the Dolphins Rugby Union Club hosted their annual Long Lunch.
This yearly event, which some would rate as the hottest tickets in town, has been in existence for several years and with a list of Wallaby legends as guest speakers and guests seated in an attractive and relaxing atmosphere, a very entertaining day is assured.
This year guest speakers were; Greg Clark, Andrew Slack, Greg Cornelsen, Michael O’Connor and Chris Roach.
On this occasion the Dolphins were proudly supporting two groups; GIVIT, goods for good causes: and Hearts in Union – Helping rugby help its own.
After a welcome from club President Donald McKill – in which he thanked all their sponsors – he then introduced the GIVIT representative, Dan Neylan, and Hearts in Union Representative, Sam Robson.
For GIVIT, they centre their funding on outback people going through hard times and Hearts in Union, work for rugby union players who have received spinal injuries; players who, after some five years of support are usually forgotten.
As on all occasions, raffle and auctions were part of the afternoon.
Saturday morning saw a small group of Noosa Old Boys (and one old girl) take control of organising the visit of the Kids with Cancer Project Bus.
After arranging the parking of the vehicle and assisting with displays, the NOBS then provided a barbecue breakfast for the visitors and guests.
The vehicle transporting the team whose job it is to bring to the people on the East coast of Australia what this project is all about, was parked on the beach side of the clubhouse.
After meeting the Old Boys and being welcomed by club President Ross Fisher, guest of honour Col Reynolds OAM, the passionate founder of Kids Cancer Project, explained the purpose of the stopover.
Their journey had started at Townsville and with the Old Boys offering to sponsor the Noosa visit, it gave them the opportunity to explain the Project to beach-goers and above all, attend Channel 7 TV and local press interviews, organised by a member of the Old Boys.
The team works under the slogan, “Kids with Cancer need Science,” and Col explained the full meaning.
“Basically what it means is that all moneys raised goes straight to the team of scientists who are actually working with the children and their families; we are not prepared to see it go anywhere else,” he said.
The visit also gave Col the opportunity to present their cause to Glen Elmes, our local State Member who was an invited guest.
“The fact that Col’s team, (down through the years,) has already raised $36 million and it has all gone direct to the scientists, is of the utmost importance. He informed me that three children die every week from cancer and I find this totally unacceptable,” Mr Elmes said.
At the completion of the function, Noosa President wished the project all the best and on behalf of the Old Boys team, thanked Mr Elmes and Channel 7 for their attendance and support and also the Noosa council for their assistance.
On Saturday to round up the weekend of the Noosa clubs supporting community charities, the Pirates Rugby League Club took the opportunity, at their last home game of the season, to invite the representatives of the Sunshine Butterflies to be in attendance; thus helping to promote their cause and help raise some badly needed finance.
This was also a great gesture, as to find a way to introduce the representatives between the games on such a day, can be difficult.
During the day Sunshine Butterflies members, with the support of Pirates workers, conducted raffles amongst the crowd.
Then between a very entertaining match, of old boys – Pirates vs Kawana and the match of the day, a very productive auction was conducted by a representative from Ray White Reality and a substantial amount was raised.
In her address to the crowd, Leanne Walsh from Sunshine Butterflies, thanked the Pirates and said that they greatly appreciated the money raised and realised the tremendous effort to have the function during a home game.
Pirates’ President Greg Christensen said, “We are only too happy to sponsor the Sunshine Butterflies. It is a great cause and it is the third time we have done so and as president I would be only too happy to see our sponsorship become an annual event. These people now run a therapeutic farm at Cooroibah and they will need all the help they can get. We wish them well.”
To have the three clubs Noosa Dolphins, Noosa Surf Club and Noosa Pirates, providing a workforce to help local charities, can only be successful if totally supported by club management and their workforce; and this is exactly what happened.
With volunteers too many to name, we at Noosa Today take pride in the fact that these tireless workers both men and women, were of our community. Proud to say, they were in every meaning of the word – Our People.
