Brian Hoepper
It was ‘touch and go’ as Noosa Masters swimmers travelled north to Maryborough for the annual swim meet. Anxiety clouded the way, as the week’s dramatic storms suggested a tumultuous disruption at the Maryborough pool. And, as chance would have it, this was the club’s first outing under the dynamic leadership of new club captain LiQun Hussey. Her parade was about to be rained on.
But the weather turned in dramatic fashion, and on Saturday morning the pool was drenched in sunshine that lasted the entire day. Casting aside rain jackets and gumboots, the 12-strong Noosa team plunged into the warm-up lanes, ready for five hours of competition.
The team performed exceptionally. In a field of one hundred, four Noosa swimmers won age-group medals and five set a total of six new personal bests (PBs). These PBs were particularly celebrated, as swimmers tend to slow up a little when Christmas beckons at the end of a demanding year of competition.
The Fraser Coast is rich in historical and environmental interest. The Noosa team made a weekend of it, with some exploring the historical precincts of Maryborough while others headed for the Hervey Bay beaches. For the latter, the weather had the last laugh. A planned boating exploration of the west coast estuaries of Fraser Island (‘K’gari’ to the Butchulla people) was cancelled by the tour operator. Unnecessarily, as it turned out, for Sunday dawned clear and sunny and stayed that way all day.
Some disappointment, but we’ll be back again for next year’s swimming, and more. New members are warmly welcome to join us.
