By Ron Lane
It was not the way that our local lifesavers expected to finish a trip away to contest a major surf carnival. However, this year on returning home from the annual Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships at Tugan, all contestants and officials that were in attendance, between 12.30pm and 2pm Sunday, were required to report to their local hospital for testing (regarding Covid-19) and quarantine at home until a negative result was achieved.
This allotted time was the period in which the final events were being contested. Happy to report that all our clubbies responded to the club officials’ request. Head Coach for Sunshine Beach Club Josh Minogue said “There were no problems and the club responded according to our health regulations.” Great results for all concerned.
When the red and yellow flags go up on the weekend and our locals and tourists come to enjoy the surf, they do so under the care and observation of the beach patrols: every-one of which, is under the supervision of the duty Patrol Captain. There are always two patrols per day, working from 7am till 12 noon then 12 noon till 5 pm: Saturday and Sunday.
During these daylight hours, working quietly in and around the clubhouse is the most important and powerful club member of all. The Club Captain. He is the Patrol Captains number 1 back up and if need be, on very rare occasions, his advisor. Not even the club President has the power to go on to the beach and overrule him. When you meet such a man or woman, one who has held the position for several years, on shaking their hand you will usually find yourself in the company of a BP Man: in other words, a quite achiever.
Such a man is Noosa’s Club Captain Roger Aspinall. This man, despite holding the position for five years, would still be relatively unknown in our community. When asked his goal regarding his position he replied, “To serve the community in a highly trained and professional manner.” We of the Noosa community could not ask for more.
Born in Sydney in 1958, Roger grew up in the suburbs of Epping and Carlingford. Attending Epping Boys High School, he graduated Year 12 to study chemistry and become a Laboratory Analyst for a pharmaceutical company. Then a few years later, he started a contract packaging business with his brother: then 20 yrs on bought a kayak shop, which he and his partner Jules, extended to a three shop and hire business on Cockatoo Island.
However, after years of living in Sydney, being raised, educated and running their own business, Roger and Jules, decided it was time to “quit the rat race for something better.” And what could be better than Noosa Heads. “We arrived in 2010 and decided to join the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club. We had never been involved in a surf club before, but as we were both involved in the sport of surf ski paddling, we decided to join.”
Obtaining his bronze medallion in 2011, he commenced patrolling: then as a Masters Competitor took part in surf sports, winning the trophy, Most Improved Competitor. Working on the beach, he became a Patrol Vice Captain and a year later was elevated to the position of Patrol Captain: Rogers’ career was well under way. Following this he was recruited into the training team as a bronze trainer and assessor and also into the IRB team where he performed the same duties. His next move was when he was appointed to the Lifesaving committee taking up the duties and responsibilities as a Club Supervisor and Patrol Captains Representative to committee.
In 2015 as a Wave Runner Operator, he became a member of the Operations Support Team and Surfcom Radio Operator. Also, at that time he was awarded the Dave Higgins Club Person of the Year Trophy. As a result of his experience, he was elected Club Vice captain then finally in 2016, was nominated and elected to the office of Captain of the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club. His devotion to the club and performance of his many duties and responsibilities, was, by this appointment fully recognised by his peers.
“I did not seek these roles,” said Roger, “but I just seem to land in them for some reason or other. I don’t do politics (in the club) so I think my leadership style has bought a degree of stability, to the Lifesaving Club over the past few years. I enjoy volunteering my time and serving the community: it’s also about learning new skills and being able to use these skills in a professional manner: don’t make a fuss, just get on with the job and develop a pathway which others members can easily follow.
A very pleasing factor is, that we now have a strong Waverunner (surf rescue skis) contingent in the club thanks to people like Steve Crisp and David James, and also for the first time we have three Surfcom Operators. I am very proud to ware the Red and Yellow, and especially wear the Maroon and White colours of our club: I hope that I have influenced a change in the way in which our members approach their patrolling obligations and responsibilities.”
Too many times in lifesaving, devoted, dedicated members such as Noosa’s club captain Roger Aspinall, go virtually unknown, whereas the surf sports gets the publicity. Therefore, the community should always be reminded that our core business is still and always will be lifesaving. It is a sad but brutal fact of life, and let’s face it, that in the last two seasons two lifesavers were killed while in performance of their patrolling duties and another (a female member) suffered a minor shark attack. Let’s not get complacent; after-all the Lifesaving movement is now, and always will be, a very important part of that industry we call TOURISM.
