To say that Sunshine Beach Surf Lifesaving Club is at present on the crest of a big wave would have to be the understatement of the year.
In all aspects of surf club life, patrols (which is the core business of all surf clubs), competition, hospitality and community involvement, things just could not be better.
There can be no doubt that the biggest smiles in town would have to be on the faces of architects Paul Curran and Andrew Bock; the feeling, when one walks through the doors of the new Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club is definitely a feeling of friendship and relaxation. The view which can be enjoyed from several aspects speaks for itself.
Down on the beach their patrols are as always of high standard; not only do they patrol the very open Sunshine Beach, but around the corner of the northern end, the unpatrolled and extremely dangerous Alexandria Bay comes under their scope of courtesy patrols; emergency call outs into this Bay have always ended successfully.
When the patrol competitions, at both State and National level gets under way, you will always see Sunshine teams on the podium; and as stated this is our core business.
In the competition arena coach Paul Gilmore and support teams are getting great results; the results from the recent Murphy Builders Carnival held at Maroochydore speak for themselves.
At this carnival, once again in the Under 17 division for both male and, their performance in team events such as ski, boards and taplins saw them with wins in all events.
“Their performance was outstanding,” said the coach. “In everything they entered they finished on the podium; also two members Summer Hooper and Georgia McKinley have now been named in the state team.”
Craig Law has also been appointed team manager for the state.
A great supporter group, top patrols, an Under 17 champion competition team and a new clubhouse – what more could anyone ask for?
Well done to all involved.
The dreaded call
One call that our patrol members have come to dread is to attend to a suspected spinal injury; and recently this seems to becoming quite regular.
At 5pm of Monday Australia Day, one such call was received from a group of people in Noosa’s National Park, car park area.
A man in his 30s, while board riding in the Park area had fallen from his board and head first, struck a sand bank.
Jet-ski rescue teams were immediately tasked and found the patient supported by a group of people in the water.
A patrol from Noosa arrived with a spinal board and under the supervision of a doctor, dropped on the scene by helicopter; the patient was secured on the spinal board and conveyed to the Noosa Lions Park by ambulance. Following more medical assessment, he was then flown by helicopter to the Royal Brisbane Womens Hospital.
It is now on record, that there have been three suspected spinal injuries, requiring helicopter evacuation to hospital, in the last three weeks.
With doctors now being a part of the Medivac Rescue Helicopter crews, fast medical care is now available.
However we must emphasise that people who enter the surf, be it on a board or body surfing, should proceed with the utmost caution.
“If you are not experienced,” said Noosa Patrol Captain Trevor King. “Don’t enter the surf and in such places like National Park, check for sandbanks and rocks.”
Remember the spinal injuries can result in a permanent injury that will require a lifelong wheelchair. If at a patrolled area talk to the senior patrol members for advice.
