By RON LANE
ON SUNDAY 29 March at 2pm hundreds of lifesavers both men and women, from all up the east coast gathered beside the Bulli SLSC in NSW. The occasion was to show their respect and bid a sad farewell to one Australia’s finest and most respected lifesavers, Robby Meijer.
Robby started his career as an eight-year-old nipper with the Woonona club and obtained his bronze medallion in 1968. In 1978 he joined Bulli.
During an outstanding career of some fifty years Robby became a legend through his involvement in all aspects of competition from rescue and resuscitation, through to surf boats. But it was in the tough competition arena of surf boat racing that he really made his mark.
As Robby had been the surf boat sweep/coach of Noosa from 2001 till 2005, it was only fitting that Noosa club be represented at the ceremony. Consequently twelve Noosa members, male and female, made the journey.
Amongst those was Steve Kelly, who when called upon to speak on behalf of Noosa said, “Robbie Meijer was the best thing that ever happened to the boat section at Noosa.”
It was on the 26 December 1949 that the history of surf boat racing started in the Noosa Heads SLSC. The day bore witness to the launching of the clubs first ever surf boat fittingly named, ‘Noosa’. Built at a cost of 260 pounds ($520) by Norm Wright of Bulimba, this boat termed a double ender, was so heavy that it required all club members to lift it. Now some sixty-six years later boats are still being raced by crews that proudly wear the Noosa colours of maroon and white.
Through the years there have been many members who have proudly made outstanding contributions to this form of competition both as sweeps and support groups – sweeps such as Keith King, Ray Stinger Zillman and Alby Maxwell and support teams Phil Cave, Mick Curwen, Steve Kelly, Les Miller just to name a few. But the man who really left his mark and took Noosa to great heights was without a doubt sweep/coach, Robbie Meijer.
It was in the year 2000 that myself as club president was informed by the then senior boat sweep Alby Maxwell, that he was resigning and return to NSW. I was somewhat taken aback by this news but Alby said, “Don’t worry mate, I am not leaving you in the lurch.
“I have got a bloke lined up to do the job for you, his name is Robbie Meijer and he is one of the best.
“I will introduce you to him at the National Titles.”
Upon learning the name of the man I was about to meet, I did my research and in doing so realised why Alby said, “He is one of the best.”
Amongst his many achievements, and there were many, he won the NSW Open Boat with Bulli in 1990 and then in 1993 and 98 won the Australian Reserve Grade boat championship. During the 1991 season he and his crew had represented Australia at the Trans-Tasman International Surf Challenge at Mereweather, perhaps one of his greatest achievements. And by a strange coincidence, two members of that crew Chris Mercer and Rod Mercer are cousins of the currant Noosa head coach and iron-man Legend Darren Mercer.
True to his word Alby introduced us at the National Titles. We shook hands and a short time later Robby and his partner Cheryl arrived in Noosa. When we discussed the business side of things Robbie told me, “I will do everything to make sure that the boat section does not become a financial burden.
“Also if a crewmember has a patrol violation he will not represent this club till that has been rectified.” On both points Robby kept his word.
Robby immediately formed two crews an ‘A Crew’ and a ‘Masters’. By the end of the 2002/03 season Noosa had won the coveted Open Boat Queensland VB Cup – rowing in his specially designed green boat.
The following year Robbie formed a ladies’ crew that went on to win the Sunshine Coast Branch Championship, Queensland State and then capped this off by winning the Open Ladies Australian Surf Rowers League Championship. Molly Stewart who rowed in ladies’ crews for four seasons said, “Robbie built our section from the ground up.
“I joined from Mooloolaba… he made everyone feel welcome… on carnival day in the Noosa tent it was like a family gathering.
“But most important he was always looking for new ideas… very open minded.”
The 2004/5 season bought similar results when his opens mens’ won the Queensland State Title and his ladies continued their success by winning a silver medal at state. They followed this by again winning the ASL. Open.
During his time in Queensland he also helped many other crews amongst those were Rainbow Bay, Northcliffe and Kurrawa, and these achievements were just a few. Robby also found time to become one of the very few boat sweeps to obtain the very coveted Level Three SLSA Coaching Certificate. This award plus his outstanding success in competition places him amongst the all-time greats of the Australian Surf Boat Fraternity.
Away from the surf he was also heavily involved in Rugby and was also the author of many training programs for various sports; he also took part in cross training activities. While in Noosa he also held many training sessions with the coach and rowers from the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club.
“It is only right that we always help our locals,” he said.
Sadly Robby has left us at the young age of 62 years. To his partner Cheryl our very best wishers, our door is always open.
His years in Noosa have told us that here was a man of integrity and pride. Above all a man referred to by all those who knew him as, one of nature’s gentleman.
