A very special modified surf carnival took place at Noosa Main Beach last Saturday morning.
Fifty-six participants and their family members from Noosa, North Burleigh, Dicky Beach and Mooloolaba surf lifesaving clubs and 80 surf lifesaving volunteers from these clubs as well as Sunshine Beach, Kurawa and Port Douglas met for the first ever Surf Life Saving joint disability Program in Australia.
On the beach, surf lifesaving volunteers of all ages led participants through warm up, an obstacle course, a tube rescue activity, a wade and a board rescue paddle before free time catching waves and paddling kayaks. Afterwards Olympian Dawn Fraser and Life Governor Ron Lane presented all participants with a certificate and refreshments.
The day was a huge success and we could not have held such an event without the tireless support of our team of Noosa Surf Club volunteers, Peter Williams and his team, Jo Power, Lorna Macchia and the administration staff at NHSLC, Noosa Seahorse Nippers founder Steve Mawby said.
“I don’t know how we can thank the Noosa community enough,” Deb Hazelwood of North Burleigh SLSC said.
“Last weekend, 11 families and support crew travelled from the Gold Coast to participate.
“Whilst families and children were hesitant, as many have not been away from their home base in years, they embraced the opportunity to push through their comfort zones and pre-plan for this special weekend.
It was the first break from home since 2018, not counting hospital visits, for Danica and Troy, who travelled from North Burleigh with their three sons Rhiley, 14, Tristan, 12 and Lucas, 10, all taking part in the event.
“As a group travelling together, we had the opportunity to support each other,” Deb said.
“On arrival at Noosa SLSC on Saturday morning, we were welcomed with open arms. From the bus driver to the volunteers, everyone was amazing. The program was so well organised and the children had smiles from ear to ear.”
The generosity of the Noosa RACV Resort, Burleigh Lions Club, Tewantin Noosa Lions Club, the North Burleigh Surf Club, Mooloolaba SLSC and the restaurant at the Noosa SLSC allowed our participants to get away for the weekend, something that was not easily possible, Soo Smith of Mooloolaba SLSC said.
“The children excelled in this environment and parents were excited that the children were trying new activities and mixing socially with the other children. It was wonderful to see the parents bonding and making new relationships,” she said.
Saturday’s event was the first step in establishing an annual day at Noosa that focuses on programs in surf lifesaving for participants with a disability, accessibility and support to the patrol areas and a pathway into surf life saving.
