By Ron Lane
On Tuesday evening representatives from Noosa Heads, Sunshine Beach and Coolum Supporter Clubs were amongst the 2000 plus guests who attended the Annual Clubs Queensland Awards of Excellence 2019 Dinner.
“In her words of welcome Sue van der Merwe, Managing Director of Lotteries & Keno said, “Tonight is all about recognising and applauding the efforts and achievements of the incredible people who work so hard to operate these clubs.” How very true. Without the dedication and loyalty of managers and staff of our Surf Life Saving Supporter Clubs they would not be the success they are today; and our financial situation would indeed be very grave. Above all the ability of our staff to make both members and visitors feel welcome and cared for is something in which our people excel.
From our end of the Sunshine Coast it was a big well done to three clubs; Coolum, Sunshine and Noosa Heads. Coolum was named winners of the Best Gaming Venue Small Clubs category, public acknowledgement of Sunshine’s place in the Hall of Fame (being named Sunshine Coast Best Supporter Club three years in a row) and for Noosa for the second consecutive year, Best Club Sunshine Coast. This was an outstanding achievement; to win again next year, (three in a row) will put them into the Clubs Queensland Hall of Fame.
Chairman of the Noosa Board of Directors Ian Young OAM said, “This has been a great result, to win once is good but to do it two years in a row is fantastic. Many thanks to board members, our management team, Anton Mogg, Les Evans and Carmel Savage, plus all our staff and supporters. Without them it would not be possible.”
For the members of the Noosa boat section it has indeed been a very good season and for one member in particular it has been a great experience. His name is Stuart Cooper and he hails from Cornwell in England. Coming to Australia with wife Mary and three children they were looking for a nice place situated about an hour or two from a major city; which to their idea was Brisbane. “First we looked at Maroochydore then Coolum but decided that Noosa was it; in some ways it reminded us of home.
Soon as we settled we joined the surf club and with the kids in the Nippers I joined the senior ranks and at Christmas 2018 aged 42 I obtained my bronze: and immediately got involved in the boat section.” However for Stuart this was really nothing new for during his life in England he became a member of the Portreath Surf Life Saving Club. “Our system is totally different to yours. To join we had to do a test swim and then demonstrate boat competence: at our beach we had good surf not quite as big as yours.
Our beach faces north and the only real drawback is the water temperature which is usually 13/14 degrees. However in the middle of summer it can touch19. It was a good club and recently we celebrated our 70th year; and the boating fraternity has really become international. In England we had a visit from a French crew and this year I am hoping to meet the crew again at the Australian Championships; what could be more international, a Pommie competing for an Aussie club against a crew from France.”
This week both Noosa and Sunshine will travel to the Gold Coast to contest the Australian titles; we wish them well.
