Peregian Family and Friends President Leigh McCready has stepped down six years after founding the residents’ organisation in 2017.
Ms McCready has been part of the team that raised over $130,000 to fund community projects, led the community campaign to re-start the Peregian Beach Surf Life Saving Club and created the first and only resident’s association on the Sunshine Coast which crosses shire and electorate boundaries.
Ms McCready said, “After six incredibly busy and rewarding years on the committee, now is a good time to hand over the reins to a new president with fresh ideas and fresh energy.”
Graham Reid, long-term Peregian Beach resident and formerly vice-president officially took over the role of president this month.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to achieve. Especially the re-establishment of the Peregian Beach Surf Lifesaving Club which was closed in 2014. With the support of Noosa Heads SLSC, the committee members and the amazing Peregian community, not only did we revive the vlub, we managed to bring the Nippers program back, with 200 Nippers on the beach this season,” Ms McCready added.
Ross Fisher, Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club’s well respected and long-standing president, acknowledged this achievement when he stated that Ms McCready’s “drive, enthusiasm and passion was undoubtedly the difference that ensured the boost required was forthcoming”.
“Her efforts were amazing,” he said.
“The Peregian community should be forever grateful as the result will be the re-establishment of the Peregian Beach SLSC in the community for the community and all beachgoers.”
Incoming president of Peregian Family & Friends, Graham Reid said: “I believe Leigh McCready is perhaps the only person I know who has the passion and energy to achieve such a remarkable result for this community.”
Peregian Family & Friends was formed in 2017 and merged with the Peregian Springs Residents Association in 2018 with the aim of representing all localities of the Peregian community. In the intervening years, the organisation has taken over the permit to manage the longest running Christmas Carols event on the coast, raised $130,000 at its annual Spirit of Peregian events, supported the incorporation of the new Peregian Beach Surf Life Saving Club (PBSLSC), provided donations to the Verrierdale Rural Fire Brigade and other brigades and consistently improved the liveability for residents in the wider Peregian area.
But for Ms McCready, her proudest moment came when Peregian Family & Friends presented a cheque for $80,000 to the Peregian Surf Club.
“It was a very proud moment for us all, a long time coming but we were so grateful to play our part in helping the PBSLSC be ‘re-born’,” she said.
The new Peregian Family & Friends committee is:
• President: Graham Reid.
• Vice president: Cheryl Newsom.
• Secretary: Michael Spicer.
• Treasurer: Mike Goss.
• General vommittee: Bob Joubert and Penny Casey.
For further information about Peregian Family & Friends or to become a member, visit peregianfriends.com or the Peregian Family & Friends Facebook or Instagram pages.
