By Margaret Maccoll
The many recent accomplishments of Noosa Heads Surf Life Savers were highlighted at its sponsors breakfast last Friday following a busy summer season which saw life savers rescue about 70 people when the Oma cyclone whipped up the seas and treat about 150 people for blue bottle stings.
Year 9 Good Shepherd Lutheran College student Jed Hamblin was recognised for his selection as the lifesavers’ lifesaver out of 150 participants in the recent nippers camp. Jed was also acknowledged for his part in a mass rescue, and for his work with nippers he was presented with the President’s medal.
Tourism Noosa CEO Steve McPharlin praised the supporters club for taking the Master Chef program on board when bad weather prevented its screening from proceeding as planned on the beach.
“It was a great opportunity for Noosa,“ he said.
The program which is broadcast to 120 countries was filmed in Noosa after Queensland Tourism paid creators of the show, the Endermol group, for the event to occur, he said.Training and education officer Jonathan Donnelly told guests how his engagement of 40 local schools had resulted in about 700 students a week engaging in surf education, learning skills including bronze medallion, surf rescue, first aid and CPR.
Also joining the lifesavers was exchange student Rodrigo De Aluso Santana from Madrid.Jonathan said one student had recently used the skills he was taught to give CPR to a person.
“That person is alive today because of that,“ he said. Club president Ross Fisher thanked new and continuing sponsors for their support without which the club could not operate as it does and paid tribute to the new nippers program operating at Peregian Beach and the parents supporting it.
