Ron Lane
With Christmas Day just weeks away I think it is only right that we in the Noosa Shire take the opportunity to stop, think and say thanks.
Thanks to those organisations and unpaid volunteers, who down through the year, have contributed their time and effort to raise the funds necessary to help those in need.
One such organisation would be the Smile for a Child and the other, the group responsible for the Access Beach Mats on Noosa’s main beach. These mats have made our beautiful beach easily accessible to all young mothers with prams and those who better years are behind them.
The Smile for a Child group which was formed in 2007 has the distinction of having Evonne Goolagong Cawley stand as patron and her support which has been ongoing for several years is so noted.
To date this this group has raised in excess of $510,000 for local childrens charities. One function for which they have become some what famous is the annual Noosa Combined Clubs Smile for a Child Charity Golf Day hosted by the Noosa Golf Club.
Held in September, it is the initiative of six clubs in the Noosa area. The Surf Club Sunshine Beach, the Surf Club Noosa Heads, Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club, Noosa RSL, Cooroy RSL and the Noosa Golf Club.
Sunshine Coast Charities that benefit from such a function are Starlight Foundations, Sunshine Butterflies, Noosa Seahorse Nippers, Sunny Kids and the K.I.D.S. Foundations. This charity got off to a good start when in their inaugural year they raised $32,000 and since then they have not looked back.
Down through the years there have been occasions when donations have been made to families that have been hit by a tragedy. All in all, a charity to be admired. They also conduct a major art union and for this, prizes are donated by local business houses.
Organisers wish to acknowledge Sharp Sunshine Coast, Hotel Laguna, Bella Casa Noosa, Munna Beach Apartments, Andari Holiday Apartments, Rise Noosa Apartments and Sofitel Resort. All monies raised stays local and with no admin fees, all work is done by volunteers or club staff.
Recently, the Noosa Surf Club hosted a Smile for a Child luncheon at which the Noosa Seahorse Nippers chairman Steve Mawby received a cheque for $5000. This was presented by their patron Dawn Fraser, another great Australian who has not hesitated to give her time and assistance to this worthy cause. Jordie Mercer another patron was unable to attend and sent her best wishers.
Over the years there has been many who have donated their time and effort. Just to name a few Little Jo Power, Tony Hack, Tony and Linda Jedynak, Donald McKill, Dr Susie O’Neill, Rod McCall, Leeanne Walsh, Darren Lehmann and Tony Giles.
These are just a few of the many, who, when it comes to care and consideration for our children are always there. But perhaps the most noted of all is the Noosa Club manager Anton Mogg (involved since the beginning) and the man himself Glenn Puckeridge.
Affectionally known to one and all as Puck, this fundraiser extraordinaire, definitely has no equal within the boundaries of our community. To people such as these we are proud to say they are indeed Our People.
Beach mats
For several months, we have watched in absolute amazement as mother nature has given us what must be the longest and widest sandy beach ever in living memory.
However, with such visual beauty there came, until now, a major problem. The great expansion of Noosa’s wide, golden, soft, sandy beach, made crossing to the waters’ edge, something of a problem for many of our visitors, locals and tourists
Young mothers with strollers, Nipper parents with small children, elderly people with knees that have seen better days (like yours truly) and those who are simply not up to the effort required for such a walk, a walk that in days gone by would end with a swim in the in the beautiful waters of Noosa.
But then there came a concept that greatly reduced this problem. They called it the Beach Access Mats. Stretching from the boardwalk almost to the water’s edge, these mats were definitely a god send, for it made the long difficult walk so much easier.
The success of the mats, totally supported by our lifeguards, is something that needs to be addressed and above all continued.
This means that a day at our beach with the family would no longer be restricted to the fit and healthy. Also, it makes those in wheelchairs aware that we in the Noosa community, care about their welfare.
Now when you walk these mats, we at Noosa Today invite you to stop and read the names of those who made this project a reality. They are marked on a beach mat for all to see – Sandy Bolton local member, the Noosa Shire Council, and above all, another of our great volunteer organisation, the Noosa Tewantin Lions.
The success of these mats, totally supported by our lifeguards, is something that needs immediate attention. There is definitely a need for another set.
However, if this should come up for discussion, all aspects of the time, placement and beach safety, must be guided by our local lifeguards and their recommendations strictly adhered to. After all, beach safety is their profession.
With visitation to our beach on a massive increase, a second Beach Access Mat would be of great benefit. Regarding the financial aspect, I feel that there are those who were not fully aware, when first approached, of the massive benefit obtained from such a project.
With the Smile for a Child charity, plus the success of the Beach Access Mats all done by volunteer fund raisers and support workers, it makes us proud: a good year made possible by, Our People.
To all Our People involved in these charities and this project, many thanks and Merry Christmas.
