By Phil Jarratt
Every beach should have a club like the Noosa Turtles, and a lot do. But I’m not sure too many of them put as much back into the community as these fun-loving septuagenarians do.
Founded nearly a decade ago by former Sydney northern beaches surfer and travel industry guru Bob Wood, 78, and a few mates, the all-male Turtles meet in front of the Sails coffee cart at First Point almost every morning to swim a length of the 500-metre beach, run back and settle in for a few laughs and a discussion of world affairs and local politics over coffee. They might also plot one of their many charity fundraising events, which have seen significant Turtle contributions to organizations such as the Noosa Coastguard over the years.
Although the Coastguard donations might be seen as a self-serving down-payment on future rescues should they be swept out into the shipping lanes, Bob Wood insists that one of the founding Turtle principles is to make Noosa a better place. “Besides, we’re all elite athletes who can look after ourselves.”
“Our morning meetings are a bit like a men’s shed, except we don’t bring our tools,” he adds.
On the morning our photo was taken 14 of the 20 or so Turtles presented themselves – a couple had jumped the gun and started swimming – with an average age of 70. An eclectic bunch of high achievers determined to keep fit into the golden years, many of them had already cycled several kilometres to the beach and would cycle home again, jacked up on coffee, in an hour or two.
“It’s like a mini triathlon every day,” says Charl Gold, 67, a former clothing manufacturer and property developer, and one of a significant subset of South African-born Turtles. Other high-flying Saffas in the group include Neville Mills, 77, who had a recruitment company specializing in the finance industry, Graham Owen, 65, an IT specialist, and founding member Garth Berg, 73, a retired lawyer.
Veteran Californian film-maker Greg Huglin, 68, represents the other side of the world, while long-time Noosans Garth Chapman, 74, whose construction company is still building beautiful Queenslanders, and Tom Mardling, 64, who is the youngest Turtle (known as TIT, or turtle-in-training) and the longest-standing local after 43 years, represent the home side.
But wherever they’re from, the Turtles have one thing in common: none of them have been twiddling their thumbs. Most, but not all, have now retired from stellar careers, and are loving every minute of their active senior lifestyles, not to mention the occasional Friday night beer.
“Don’t forget to say we enjoy a good laugh,” says Bob Wood. “After surfing, swimming and paddling, laughter is the best medicine.”
