On 14 October the Annual Black Belt gradings for the Karate Noosa Club will be conducted with only three candidates qualifying for these gradings. One candidate will go for their 1st Dan, another for their 2nd Dan and the third student will be graded for their 3rd Dan. All gradings will be conducted under the authority of the World Shotokan Karate Federation and supervised by qualified Head Sensi Bryan Dukas 6th Dan. Only two people are qualified to conduct 3rd Dan Gradings in Australia.
Following this in November, seven members will travel to Japan for a two-week tour. This will consist of one week of intensive training: and following this team members will compete in the World Shotokan Karate Federation Championships. For our local Shotokan club this will be the 8th year that members have undertaken the challenge of advanced training seminar as well as three days of world class competition. Funding for the tour will be greatly assisted by a donation from Stellar Conveyance.
This type of advanced training and competition will ensure that a high standard of this martial art, will always be maintained in our Noosa club.
Outriggers
“The Noosa paddlers are gearing up for some big races starting soon. We will host our River Race on 2 December which will be a rare chance to see racing from close up as most of our events is on open water,” said club spokesman Colin Jones
This year the Recreational Paddlers are entering a team and as positions are hard to come by, they will be racing off in their various divisions. This week saw an experienced team led by Paul Redfern, and including T. Talsma, Sealskin, G Murray, C Jones and D. Hay fight it out with other crews to win through.
This team is very strong in their age group and are very tough to beat pound for pound. As this season unfolds Noosa will be looking to cement their position as one of the premier clubs in the South Queensland zone.
Pickleball.
It is good news from the Noosa Pickleball Club. Contesting the recent Australian Pickleball Championships, held in Sydney and attended by just under 700 participants, making it the biggest ever held in the southern hemisphere, the Noosa club came home with a swag of medals: 7 gold 10 silver and 5 bronze.
This is indeed an incredible result and speaks volumes for the coaching and support that is available to those thinking of taking up the sport. Add to this the two new courts just opened at the Sporting Complex, and one can only say that here is yet another sport that is now making its present felt throughout, not just in our state but also the sporting world of Australia.
The clubs current offering of free introductory sessions has been a great success in obtaining new members. In the words of club President Ron Glatiff, ‘’The game is exploding in popularity throughout Australia. Another of our positive moves is that several of our best junior and female players are off to America to try out in their major leagues. To give some indication as to the sports success at the international level, top tennis players are turning to pickleball: Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Steffi Graff, Maria Sharapova, Eugenie Bouchard, Kim Clijsters and Jack Sock.
High profile celebrities including George Clooney and wife Amal, world champion golfer Phil Mickelson, admit to being Pickleball addicts. Names and personalities are always great publicity for a new sport: in particular one where the age limit is not a major factor. Keeping up their successful promotion of the game in Noosa, President Ron Gatliff informs interested parties that the club is currently running sessions at the Olive Donaldson Pavilion in Tewantin, the Noosa Leisure Centre, Noosaville state school and Noosa Tennis Club.
‘’The sport celebrated World Pickleball day on Tuesday October 10,” said Gatliff, “and our club also has an into club day, 29th October at the Caloundra Indoor Centre against the Sunshine Coast Pickleball Club. For more information check our club website or send an email to, info @noosapickleballclub. com “
The administration, promotion and coaching panel of this club is to be applauded for their progressive and successful attitude. Let’s us always remember, that as they progress and host more visiting clubs, as well as tourist (who are already visiting their club) the sport is also helping to promote tourism.
Athletics.
‘’This has been a big week for seven of our Noosa Athletics training squad, as they head to Brisbane for the Queensland Secondary School Track and Field Championships: these will run from the 12th to the 15th of October,” said Head Coach Mick Hooper.
“Our squad has been in training for these championships since early May and the athletes have gained selection via competing at their School, District and Regional carnivals. Five of our athletes travelled to Mackay during September school holidays break to compete at the very competitive North Queensland Championship. These were a terrific hit out before the School State Titles. Taya Clayton, Harley Davies, Dianne Ladewig, were amongst the medals and Mailee Scott-Jones also performed well to finish with a 4th and 5th in her finals.
Also, during the meet Australian Athletics Championship qualify standards, were also achieved by Taya Clayton in the 100m and 90m sprint and Dianne Ladewig in the 100m hurdles. This allows them to nominate for the Australian Athletics Championships to be held in Adelaide early April 2024. It has been great to see the hard work these athletes put in at training paying off.”
Our Nippers.
For the Nippers of the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club, on Sunday 1 October they launched their 56th Nipper season with a Welcome to Country. Delivered by Lyndon Davis and his family in front of more than 1000 members, including 500 plus Nippers and the broader community, it was a great success.
‘’It was a picturesque morning at Noosa Main Beach,” said Director of Junior Activities Shaun Baker. “The sun was bright and the water was clear. For some families it was their first experience of Nippers and Surf life Saving. However, for others like Life Members, Scott Wilson and Peter French, the start of the season saw their grandchildren hit the sand as third generation Nippers at Noosa.
The Nippers enable the children to gain new skills, build resilience and knowledge of the ocean, while making lifelong friendships in a safe and fun filled environment: thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who put their hand up to support the Nipper Program Sundays, between October and April each year.
Surf clubs from all around Australia are using these programs as an introduction to life in the senior clubs. Once they feel, that this a a way of life that that could enjoy, it knows no limits. The modern-day nipper can start at six years of age and continue on to his 70s: where as in the olden times the starting age was 13 years and his title was cadet.
On Sunday afternoon I received a phone call from a very excited fellow life member and club mate Scott Wilson. The reason for the call was to tell me that the family had just enrolled his 6 -year- old granddaughter as a Noosa Nipper. “’And you know what?” he excitedly asked me, ‘’This makes Layla the third generation Wilson in the Noosa club. I could not be prouder.”
Next week we take a closer look at other families such as the French and Irwins, (just to name a few) and the main characteristics that are achieved by the young during their years of surf and sand.
