It was Saturday morning 8am and on Noosa’s Main Beach when 26 of our Seahorse Nippers gathered for a Christmas Party with beach events and surfing. As a result of Covid restrictions and some uncertainty regarding the activities, finalising the date had caused some difficulties. However, the morning went well with Santa on hand to hand out gifts. And with the support of some 60 helpers, it was indeed a happy fun filled occasion.
Apart from it being Christmas, it is also 10 years since the formation of the Noosa Seahorse Nippers: an organisation for the purpose of assisting children in need of help in the surf and sand environment. The fact that this has now spread interstate speaks volumes for its success. A success that is in fact mainly due to the unbelievable dedication and hard work of the foundation members, Steve and Nikki Mawby. To create a beach activity, that enables us to show our little children, that the beach and small surf is not beyond them, is indeed something of which our community should take pride.
The laughter and fun as they play on the water’s edge is indeed something to behold. But as Steve and Nikki will tell you it has been a team effort. From the Shire Council who assisted in the parking problem, to Big Peter Williams and his mate Ken Edwards and their bus driving mates: to the parents who assist on the Saturday morning activities, and the qualified lifesavers who work as water safety teams, it is indeed a team effort.
When you talk to Justin McDonald, whose son Rohan has been confined to a wheel chair from the age of 20 months, he tells their storey. “I bought Rohan, in his wheel chair, here on the very first day of the Seahorse Nippers: He was only four and now 10 years on we are still coming. The first day, he was a bit reluctant: the thought of joining in with the other kids was hard. However, a senior member named “Pommie John” Jenkins sat and talked. Then after a while, John linked arms with a clubmate and using their arms as a chair, they carried him through a beach sprint: running along the sand laughing. He loved it: they were his chariot. All the senior men have been taking him out on the surf ski and boards; they laugh and joke and he joins in everything. We haven’t missed a Saturday in all those years. Most important of all, the Seahorse Nippers has taught Rohan that there are different things that he can do and new friends that he can make. For Rohan his brother and I, the Seahorse Nippers have been fantastic.”
The stories are countless, and the many years of meetings and phone calls have resulted in success: success that has seen the concept spread along the east coast of Australia. But above all, in the background a very large group of supporting senior veteran members, always there for Steve and Nikki in an emergency or, should the occasion arise (as often happens when the hard work is done and success has become a constant companion) give gravy train riders, embarking on an endeavour to change that which is already a winner, a quite word of advice.
After chairman Steve Mawby thanked the parents and all in attendance and Santa Clause (Noosa veteran clubbie Little Peter McDonald) had met the children and passed out the presents, the chairman then introduced the members of the Smile for Child committee: Glen Puckeridge, Jo Power and Patron Michael O’Conner. Speaking on behalf of the committee the Patron first gave an apology for fellow Patrons Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC, MBE and Roger Cawley, who were unable to attend because of family commitments. After wishing all Nippers and parents season’s greetings he called on Steve Mawby to accept a cheque for $5000 for the Smile for a Child Foundation. ‘’The money raised throughout the year by our fund raisers, and we are proud to say it is now an annual event, has been on- going for several years: and the total amount raised is now very substantial.’’ He then thanked all sponsors involved and above all the volunteer fund raisers.
When it comes to the matter of sponsorship and volunteers, the sponsorship of Tony Haack of Sharp Sunshine Coast, and the unbelievable hours put in by volunteer Glen Puckeridge, should be acknowledged throughout our community. It is people such as these and others, that should always be noted. Then, there is the Patron. When highly respected and successful people from the world of big business or international sport, such as Roger and Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Michael O’Connor, step forward to assist an organisation or charity, let us all pause for a moment and utter that famous Aussie phrase: “Thanks mate , thanks a lot.”
To Steve and Nikki Mawby and their support teams, from all of us at Noosa Today, Merry Christmas and congratulations on a job well done.
