Big advancement for Noosa Surf Club

Noosa Heads life savers keep watch over swimmers in the Superkidz Triathlon. (Rob Maccoll)

From the world of Surf Life Saving it’s good news indeed. We have received a short article draft, from the Noosa Heads SLSC Education Coordinator Gary Borham, that has been put together regarding a Noosa Heads Surf Life Savings Club Surf Education Program. The purpose is to efficiently showcase notable developments at the beach during this term. The key points from the article are as follows.

Strong numbers, Term 4. We will welcome around 1300 students from almost 20 schools, including local Brisbane and First Nation schools from Murgon and Cherbourg.

Program focus: teaching essential beach and water safety. Rips, tube rescue, signalling and spotting hazards.

Broader impact: supporting older students to gain their Certificate 2 in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue).

Future growth: schools already lining up to return in 2026.

Community spirit: all made possible thanks to the support of local schools and our dedicated Surf Educated Teams. The club Education Coordinator Officer Gary Borham, then again, went on thanking Noosa Today for our on-going support for helping to share these community stories. And he added, “It is very much appreciated.”

The surf lifesaving programs in our district schools, have achieved great success, thanks to the dedicated supervision of Donald Mckill, who also currently serves as our club president.

Throughout its history with the Noosa Triathlon, the Noosa club had never been more involved than now. Eighty qualified lifesavers volunteered, over five events from Wednesday to Sunday. Add to this they still had to do their patrol duties if required.

The event schedule commenced on Wednesday with the Run Swim Run, followed by the 2XUB 1000 Ocean Swim on Friday. The third event was the Super Kidz Triathlon, followered by the Celebrity Triathlon as the fourth activity. The final and most prominent event was the Noosa Triathlon Swim. With 9000 competitors overall, the water extractions numbered only 31. Club captain Trevor King described the weather from Wednesday to early Saturday as unbelievable. ‘’The only way to explain it is that we must have had a rain God up there in the heavens,” he said with a laugh. There were starting time changers, just before every event.

To all of our club members involved in the entire program, well done people well done!!

Pickleball.

Last weekend, around 400 people gathered at the Mooloolaba Tennis Club for the annual Pickleball Tournament. Over 30 members of the Noosa Pickleball Club participated on the courts as official representatives of Noosa.

It’s important to recognize those making their mark in this rapidly growing sport. Medal winners include(mens) Bob Bleicher, Don Gillett, Makk Latham, Warren Cole, Jake Lekki, Mackenzie Johnson, Ron Gattliff, and Andrew Middlin. For the ladies our women who figured predominantly with medals were as followers. Rose Gillett, Janine Bayer, Lynne Nisbett, Michelle McMagh, Leandri, Pretorius and Kate Rorrison. Their good hard training sessions have not been in vain.

Coach Ron Gatliff also highlighted the achievements of the Green brothers. Tommy, 14, and Frankie, 11, the club’s youngest members, won medals in their divisions. A big shout to their father Shaun. As a fierce competitor himself, he encouraged his sons to try the game and discover firsthand what all the excitement was about. Family involvement in the membership drive, cannot be emphasised enough

We are pleased to announce that Noosa Pickleball now welcomes members ranging in age from 11 to 84 years. This is a good indication to not only the growth of the club, but also the attraction to the very young and the older generation. Once again it emphasises the important aspect of fostering a sense of family among members, which again helps to establish a robust club culture.

Private enterprise is now embracing the game throughout the length and breadth of Australia, thus building more complexes, with another opening recently in Maroochydore. It is hoped that this will encourage local councils and tennis clubs to offer more venues for this rapidly growing and popular sport: thus, making it possible for more people to participate. If you or any members of your family are interested in learning pickleball contact the Noosa Pickleball club by email-info@noosapickleballclub.com