By Ron Lane
When big seas are lashing our coast line and the big green waves are rolling in, one of the most exciting sports you could ever wish to see, is without a doubt, surf boat racing. This sport, which is a major part of the Australian Surf Life Saving competition calendar, has, when the big surfs are on, the power to bring a crowded beach to its feet: for its men against the sea.
It is then, that the boat and safety of the crew is in the hands of the boat sweep: a broken sweep oar, or a broaching wave (a boat moving left or right instead of running straight) can result in a massive roll over, or worse still, go end over end, with some crew still on board. To become a successful sweep, one must first have the ability to read the surf, and the capability to retain his balance and manoeuvre his boat and crew through the on- coming waves, regardless of size. Then comes the all- important turning: turning his boat at the boat buoys, hopeful picking up the right wave at the right time and holding it on to dry sand.
Since the first SLSA surf boat was manned by a five- man crew in 1910, there has been many changes: from being made of wood, to the present- day fiberglass substance; from plank seats to sliding seats and of course, the introduction of female crews. With the importance of the sweep being vital, many went on to become legends: perhaps two of the most famous being the immortal Harold “Rastas” Evans of North Steyne and in later years Ken Murray of Swansea-Belmont
In 1949 surf boat racing got its start in the Noosa Club, with its first sweep of note being Keith King; others of high repute being Ken Cleary, Alby Maxwell, Robbie Myer, Stinger Zillman : and in the modern- day group, Mick Gardner, Stewart Cooper and Head Coach/ Sweep, Dave Tomba. With Mick Gardner a successful veteran sweep, plus Stewart Cooper, who hails from the boating fraternity in England, and is now sweeping and learning our ways, David has a good team of sweeps. This is essential in a club of 14 crews: crews who cover all divisions from U/19S to the Masters. .
As Head Coach, it is David’s job to ensure that training programs, including gym sessions, are on line and the various crews are allocated to their sweeps: in this allocation, he confers with fellow sweeps. Regarding competition day, he must lease with the Boat Captain Anthony Fox, regarding dates accommodation and travel. Anthony Fox is there to over-sea all requirements outside the rowing, training and actual competition. For many head coaches who are working to build a strong boat section within their club, there will often come a day in big surf, when it all comes together. And the boating people stop and take note.
For Noosa, such a day was at the ASL ( Australian Surf rowers League opens) at Eloura 2018. In the female U/19 Division on this day, Noosa had two teams entered and both made the finals: both teams consisted of 16/17yr age school girls. “The surf was 8ft and solid, biggest the girls had ever seen. Both Mick, (who was to sweep the Spangled Drongoes) and I, (who had the Scrub Turkeys,) had to settle the girls, after they watched a monster set of waves clean up most of the Open women in their semi. This spectacle was just prior to our school girls rowing in their final.”
The rest is now club history. Not only did the girls make it through the break and out around the cans, but Gardner had swept his Spangled Drongos to win the Gold Medal and Tombas Scrub Turkeys, the Bronze. The beach erupted: It was unbelievable. The Noosa school girls, in their first ever massive surf had achieved an impossible. For the Spangles Drongos the crew was, Zali Kerr, Tayla Fox, Sinead Hayes and Josie Stephenson and for the Scrub Turkeys, Lucy- Grace Cullen, Amelia Frey, Abbey Whittaker and Grace Floyd. All were swamped with hugs and congratulations. “We couldn’t believe it.” said Tomba, “They were rowing in huge surf :and to think they were just kids.” A Noosa folklore had been created
For Dave Tomba, apart from his family of wife Kate, daughters Ayva-Maree and Natalie and sons Brendan and Mitchell, the next big thing in life is sweeping boats, coaching and rowing. However, for this family it can be said that it is definitely a boat family with wife Kate, son Brendan and daughter Ayva-Maree, all rowing for Noosa: in this both Brendan and Ayva Maree have won state titles and this season saw Dave, wife Kate and Ayva -Maree all represent Queensland.
For Dave his, first entry into the world of sport began in 1986 when he joined the nippers in the Forrest Beach SLSC age 10. Then at age 15 he obtained his bronze and during that year, while filling in for a boat crew, he became hooked on rowing: and on being mentored by Bob Stone at age 18/19, he began sweeping at Forrest Beach and when Stone left, he competed as sweep/ coach. Then in the 90s, he came under the influence of Michael Brown of Kurrawa, an elite sweep with Australian gold medals to his credit: it was from Brown that he learned so much. Then in 1996 he moved south to Noosa, continuing his lifesaving career by joining the club and also spending some time in Coolum Beach.
After 2013/14 season following years of experience, he was asked by the former Noosa boat captain Phil Bowden, to come and get the boat section on track. He formed a U/23 boat crew and this was where it all started: and now 7 years later the results speak for themselves. A major factor was the support of his wife Kate, she was outstanding: obtaining both, sponsorship deals and organising the administration side of boat life. Through-out his career his medal counts at State, ASL and National level is outstanding: also on several occasions, he has represented the state of Queensland. His goal this year is to attract more young men into the sport, a sport which at this very moment, has predominately, female crews.
Looking back over last season David Tomba said, “ The Noosa Boaties are going from strength to strength, with this season seeing the best results in the club’s history of surf boat racing.” At the Australian Titles, the Masters kicked it off with the Condors rowing in the 220+mens and making the final, but finishing outside the medals in 5th place. In the women’s Masters 140+ and known as the Noosa Bandits ,they went two better by winning the bronze medal. Based in Yeppoon these ladies travelled over 13,000km to get to carnivals and training weekends.
In the Open Division, five Noosa crews made it through to the top twelve thus achieving a major goal of making the finals. Of these, two crews the Bandits, (Reserve Women’s) ,and the Women’s U/23S bowed out in the semi – finals. The remaining three made it through to their final, with the both the Chums (Open Women’s) and the Bowerbirds (Reserve Women’s) being pipped on the line to finish 4th. However, the Kookaburras (rowing in the U/19s Women’s) went one better and won the bronze medal. For Noosa a medal was a good way to finish the National Titles.
In his private life, influenced and supported by his wife Kate, he studied and became a teacher, completing a Sports and Exercise Science Degree, July 2017:this was followed by a Masters in Teaching, graduating at the end of 2018.Now he is teaching at the Noosa District State High School. Once again, we have in our community, an unknown achiever. A young family man who, in his chosen sport, achieved so much and taught so many, that with effort, dedication and the ability to accept discipline, they can achieve their goals. Proud to say that he is also another that we can proudly refer to as- One of Our People.
Next week we meet yet another of Noosa’s unknown achievers. He works, studies, trains our youth and competes at World International level, in the incredibly disciplined world, of Martial Arts.
