By RON LANE
THEY were the type of surf conditions that gave a true indication as to the capabilities of the competitors. Good big surf with waves dumping on a sand bank.
The beach was Alexandra Headlands and the occasion was the Queensland Surf Rescue Championships – Champion Lifesaver, Board Riding and First Aid.
The championships attracted more than 200 life savers from all over the state, and were conducted over three days. The overall demand on fitness and surfing capabilities bought out the best in all who took part.
With 17 clubs registered, the overall point score winners were Northcliffe, with host club Alexandra Headlands second and Sunshine Beach third.
In the handicap point score Noosa finished first, Coochiemudlo Island second and Point Lookout third.
One factor taken into consideration in the handicap division is the number of contestants and officials in each team.
Third place for Sunshine was indeed an outstanding performance.
Over the last four years they have finished in the medals in these events at the Australian Titles. For such a small club the results speak volumes for both the coaching panel and high calibre of their young members.
In the under-15 and under-17 patrol competitions, Sunshine finished second. Second place for the 17s automatically qualifies them for the Australian titles; but because there is no under-15s at the titles, they unfortunately can go no further. In the female under-14 division, champion life saver Talisa Brady was first and Katie Gleeson second. The men’s under-14 and under-17 saw a double for the Redwood family when Jonty won the 14s and his brother Brock won the 17s. Brock’s win also qualifies him for the Australian titles.
Among the outstanding for Noosa were: under-15 first aid – Sally Wytenburg and Sarah James who finished second; this being the state final, their second place automatically puts them into the Australian titles. For female champion life saver under-19, Charlotte Webber was first and in the under-14 female, Emily Lethbridge finished third. Emily then backed up to take first place in her board riding division. Good luck for the nationals.
In December 2010, a story appeared in a local newspaper. It told of a Nambour family involved in the Nipper movement at Mudjimba.They were the Harry family and for parents Shae and Emma, children Isabella, aged 7, Angus, 4 and Lewis, 3, the Sunday morning on Mudjimba Beach was, in the words of Emma, “a great way to spend a Sunday morning as a family”. Because Isabella had turned 7 that year she was eligible to join what was at the time, the youngest age group on the Nipper program.
Now four years on, the joy of beach life has been overshadowed by a major health problem for Isabella. Now aged 11, Isabella – affectionately known to her little friends as Bella – has been diagnosed with a bone cancer called osteosarcoma. This young Nipper will, unfortunately, celebrate her 12th birthday in a Brisbane Hospital undergoing her first round of chemotherapy in a few weeks. To help overcome the financial burden that goes with cancer diagnosis and treatment, the Mudjimba Surf Life Saving Club will on the evening of 28 March 28 run a fund-raising night at the Wadiny Room Twin Waters.
Apart from her involvement in the Nippers, this little princess competes in netball, swimming, cross-country running and athletics. Her main aspiration in life was to become a professional athlete like Jordan Mercer or Australian netballer Laura Geitz.
Under the organisation of the Benefit 4 Bella committee, tables of 10 will be available for those willing to give their support.
For further details please contact Janine Hughes on 0409 544 116. A truly worthy cause.
