By Phil Jarratt
Noosa Heads Surf Club life member and our evergreen columnist Ron Lane nominates Impact Boxing’s Mark Evans as Noosa Today’s Citizen of the Year.
“I honestly believe that there is no such thing as a bad kid: sadly, most of our troubled kids are purely a product of a bad environment.” So says Mark Evans, owner/coach of the Cooroy Amateur Impact Boxing Academy, the boxing club that in 2018 was rated the best amateur boxing club in Australia.
However, it is not just success at tournaments that has Mark’s undivided attention, but also his love, care and deep concern for our youth from all levels of the community. Many accolades have been bestowed upon this high achiever, but none better than this from Senior Sergeant Mal Scott, Officer in Charge at Cooroy Police Station: “Mark has trained and mentored many of Cooroy and Noosa’s troubled kids, turned lives around and led these youths from a life of crime and shown, by example a better way to live.”
Mark’s supporters also number many of those whose everyday concern is the welfare of our youth – people such as Adam Garvey, head of special education at Cooroy State School, youth worker Kelsey Lloyd from Noosa Flexible Learning Centre, Heidi Campbell, youth support coordinator at Noosa District High and Betty McAdam, recreational sports at Cooroy State School? “His professionalism with kids allows them to listen, learn and enjoy,” says Betty McAdam.
Mark, who earns his living as a painting contractor, has down through the years created apprenticeships within his own company for many wayward youths, kids who found it difficult to hold a job. And all his work with youth described here is purely voluntary.
Reader pick
Tara Bell, Citizen of the Year
Reader Paul Bell broke new ground by nominating his wife, Tara. While this may be a little unorthodox, the Noosa Today panel liked Paul’s style, and a reading of his nomination made it very clear that Tara is a more than worthy nominee.
Paul wrote: “In 2019, Tara established Noosa Chances and ever since has been its CEO, in a totally voluntary capacity, supported by around a dozen other local volunteers. Noosa Chances provides education scholarships to talented and motivated secondary and tertiary students in the Noosa Shire, who face financial barriers. In its first year, Noosa Chances has raised more than $230,000, primarily through three events, two gala dinners and the Noosa Cup race day. This has enabled 19 scholarships to be awarded to students from Sunshine Beach and Noosa District State High Schools, with approximately a further 20 to be granted in 2021.
“Subject to continuing to meet the eligibility criteria, scholarships are provided to recipients annually for the remainder of their education, including tertiary level. The impact that the scholarships have is very tangible, not only on the individual recipient but on their siblings, families and the wider community. As Noosa Chances is run by Tara and other volunteers, virtually every dollar raised goes to fund scholarships.
“Also in early 2020, Tara established a volunteer program to provide a regular supply of donated fruit and other healthy snacks to our ‘Hospital Heroes’ – emergency doctors, nurses and support staff at Noosa Hospital – in anticipation of the expected overwhelming “wave” of Covid-19 cases. While that wave – thankfully – never broke in Noosa, it was a great initiative that recognised the tireless work that our Hospital Heroes do day-in, day-out, and another example of Tara’s outstanding community spirit.”
Have your say
Noosa Today is seeking nominations in both categories of people who in this difficult year have shown true community values, either generally or in their specific field of work, sport or passion. These might be drawn from the fields of the arts, sport, education, health, charity, business, tourism, Indigenous affairs, the environment, aged care, government, or somewhere else we haven’t thought of.
We are looking for two people – one just starting out in life, one with considerable life experience – who have exhibited a generosity of spirit and/or inspired others with their commitment to excellence. Please explain why you have chosen your nominees in 100 words or less, and email with photos if you have them, to phil.jarratt@noosatoday.com.au or newsdesk@noosatoday.com.au
