By JOLENE OGLE
AS OF Friday 6 March, Noosa National Park was officially recognised as a National Surfing Reserve, ending a 16-month campaign to win Noosa the elite status.
Surfing legends travelled far and wide, along with politicians and the local community to gather at the national park to celebrate the prestigious awarding of the Surfing Reserve status.
The fight for the honour was a hard slog, led by the unrelenting surfing legend Phil Jarratt and a team of dedicated locals.
In his speech to the gathered crowd, Phil said the National Surfing Reserve status was something Noosa should be extremely proud of and it couldn’t have been done without the community and committee’s support.
“I don’t know how I got roped into the role of steering the committee, because I needed another job like I need a hole in the head,” he said.
“But I have been very fortunate to have at my side the whole way the best damn committee of dedicated individuals you could ever ask for.”
Noosa now joins 18 other surfing reserves in Australia, but National Surfing Reserve founder Brad Farmer said Noosa should have been the first one.
“This is the jewel in the crown,” he said.
Phil said the Noosa National Park surfing spot holds a special place in the colourful history of Noosa’s surfing culture.
“This is the spot, right here, where Hayden Kenny, Bob Cooper and Bob McTavish…and so many other legendary figures of our sport and culture, had their cup of tea with god more than half a century ago,” he said.
“What a pleasure and a thrill it is to be here today (Friday 6 March) to be with such important figures in Noosa’s colourful surfing history as we write another chapter in our history.
“Hopefully, in the future, we’ll join that even more elite club of world surfing reserves.”
Member for Noosa Glen Elmes said the dedication of the surfing reserve was a dedication of what Noosa was and what Noosa is.
“We are in a very special part of the world and this is a community that has fought very hard to keep what it holds precious,” he said.
