Last week we spoke of the appointment of ladies to positions of authority within the ranks of the surf lifesaving movement: two in particular Melissa Pinchbeck to the position of Deputy President and Andrea Baker Chairperson of the JAC, Noosa Heads SLSC. With both being members of the same club, the appointments to the Board of Directors were very well received by the members and have been accepted with total support.
In the words of one male member, “It’s like a breath of fresh air, two ladies with a different approach and new ideas.” For Deputy President, Melissa Pinchbeck she has already stated that she believes the members are the club and this is something that she will fully enforce.
It was in 2013 that she moved from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast. ‘’InitiaIly, I liked meeting people in an environment: people that had a purpose: in this case that purpose was keeping people safe on our beaches.” She quickly obtained her bronze medallion, completing her patrol IRB crews’ award and rose to patrol vice-captain which she held for several seasons. Her attitude towards patrol members and her club mates in general, saw her hold the position of Club Vice-Captain under Club Captain Roger Aspinall.
Regarding surf sports, it was a love affair right from the start. “I fell in love with the surf skills and ended up on ski and board training. I have now completed some ten years competing in the Noosa Masters events.”
Add to this for the past three years she has sat on two committee’s: lifesaving and surf sports. To be able to serve both successfully is a very good point and is something to be encouraged. With her duties as a patrol member and lifesaving committee person, it is easy to see how her every weekend from September to April her life revolves around Noosa’s Main Beach
This AGM, Mel decided to nominate for Deputy President. The position was up for election and she felt, that with her passion and understanding of both Lifesaving and Surf Sports she had a rounded view of how the club worked. “Noosa is an iconic surf club, steeped in history and like all clubs should be run by its members. Volunteers give up their time and I am prepared to give up my time, to be the members voice on the Board.”
The results have now shown, that she had indeed earned the respect of the members and her belief that the members should run the club, were in line with their desires: and now the members have spoken.
The second woman Andrea Baker to stand for election as the Chairperson of the JAC, was also successful and to listen to her presentation it was obvious that both ladies were on the same wave length. The importance of understanding the feelings of the Nipper parents and what makes the nippers themselves wanting to come back for more, is definitely the crux of the matter.
For Andrea her sporting life started in Ipswich where she spent many of her mornings and afternoons, swimming as part of a local swimming club: she also spent many years playing hockey.
After competing Year 12, I continued to complete a Bachelor of Education and travelled over seas before returning to the class room and teaching for 12 years in Ipswich, Murgon and Gayndah. After many years of living in the country, Andrea her husband and young family moved to the Sunshine Coast where they were keen to get their daughter involved in the Noosa nippers.
Andrea quickly developed a love of the ocean and the Nipper movement and moved to get more involved in the Nipper way of life. This led to Andrea completing her Surf Rescue Certificate, then moving on got her Bronze Medallion and Silver Medallion( Beach Management). She has now been an active patrolling member for 6 years during which, she has served as an officer of the club as the Junior Activities Committee- Age Manager Coordinator.
Add to this, she also served on the Life Saving committee as a representative of the JAC for the past four seasons. Also, during the past five seasons Andrea has attended many Junior and Senior Nipper Carnivals. She has also supported fund raising and water safety training. This dedication resulted in Andrea receiving the President’s Award for Excellence in the 2022/23 season, thus acknowledging her commitment to the Nipper Program.
“During the last eight years I have developed strong relationships with the Nippers and their families: this has also extended to my patrolling and surf sport members. One of my goals is to continue building the nipper community, and providing guidance and support to enable parents to become more involved with the program,” she said.
It is this way of thinking, plus the experience gained down through the years, that has resulted in both Andrea Baker and Melisa Pinchbeck being appointed to the Board. To say that the attitude of these young ladies, is both refreshing and invigorating, would have to be the understatement of the year. Being appointed by the members tells us that they take their chairs, bearing the highest compliments possible. The voice of the members.
The importance of these people who work between the flags, cannot be emphasised enough. The responsibility of an experienced Board and the work of our Nipper people, whose goal is to train the members of tomorrow, is now more important than ever.
Talking sport.
Jiu- Jitsu.
Last week we spoke with Professor Yoshi Hasegawa of the Noosa Caza Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club regarding their Queensland State Championships. For the our local Caza club the titles had been a very successful event coming home with a total of some 24 medals. Now we get a look at some of the medal winners.
Perhaps the highlights came from the Head Coach of the Affiliated Caloundra Caza BJJ Club Andrew Bailey, who won double gold in the gi and no-gi (gi means jacket with collar and lapel and gi pants, no-gi rashie and board shorts) and both Kayden Koh and Beau Jagoe also won the double gold.
In the Noosa Caza kids club , the following took gold in their divisions. Joshua Millar, Joel Millar, Cassius Osborne, Spencer Trigram, Michaela Svoboda, Ashley Greason, Morgan Van Der Walt and Kayden Koh. Silver medals went to, Sean Greason, Scarlet Triger, Jordan Van Der Walt and Samson Barton. Bronze medals were won by Harrison Becke and Sampson Barton.
Others to win gold in the Adult gi were Daniel Greason, Ava Greason and Caterine Molini and bronze Glenn Vaughn Wheeler. In the No-gi other gold went to Stu Becke, Sam Morrison(Assistant coach of Noosa HQ) and Ava Greason; and the bronze medals Luca De Franchesca, Kalan Alcott, and Stephanie Weekes.
The next competition that the Caza Club will be looking forward to, will be the National Championships in Melbourne August 17th -18th at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. We wish them one and all, the very best.
Rugby League
It was a mixed weekend for Noosa Pirates. Third grade played Beerwah on Saturday at Palmwoods and with great leadership from halfback Lachlan Gladman and Sam Wright, Pirates came home with a 16 to 6 win. No game for the Reserve grade as Gympie had to forfeit. Next Saturday they play Caloundra at home with the winner fighting for top spot on the ladder.
The A grade travelled to Beerwah on Sunday and after a great week of training they started well, completing 5 from 5 sets and scoring first. “Unfortunately,” said Coach Michael Duff, “that was the only highlight for us in the first half, bombing two trying scoring opportunities, and having two tries being disallowed saw us going into the break trailing 16 to 6.”
Second half from our boys was much improved with the Pirates crossing the line three times. However, the damage from so much defence in the first half finally took its tole with Beerwah taking out the win 32 to 24. For Pirates the Best in Ground was Harry Dwyer who had a good game scoring a double. Despite a couple of losses, this is a team and a coach to take the Pirates all the way. Next Saturday its Pirates against Kawana at home
