The recent Coolangatta Gold has definitely turned out to be one to remember for the Sunshine Coast sporting fraternity. First was the fact that Noosa’s Carla Papac, coached by Darren Mercer, won the event for the first time.
Second was the performance of third lady on the podium, Lana Rogers who finished just behind second placegetter, the legendary Courtney Hancock.
To make it even better for Carla, this young lady was competing against a hot field, including four times winner Courtney Hancock and another winner Lana Rogers. Carla, who won an Australian U16 Iron Woman title, admits her parents were her biggest inspiration.
“Dad taught me to work hard and Mum taught how to control my mind,” she said.
With a mental approach such as this, and legendary coach Darren Mercer coaching, who knows what achievements lay ahead for this young clubbie.
For Lana Rogers, this race was definitely to be the ultimate challenge of her career.
Last season’s Coolangatta Gold had been an absolute disaster. Injuries plus Covid saw her fail to complete both the Gold and the Nutri Grain Ironwoman Series.
With her fitness at an all-time low, and her self- esteem and confidence fast becoming a thing of the past, her mental demons were on the move.
With her coach Sharlene Kelly, plus family and close supporters ever present, she decided to fight back and enter this year’s Gold.
“I didn’t enter to win. It was more important to prove to myself that I could enter and finish the course.”
To not only finish but also finish on the podium, was absolutely unbelievable.
“My demons are shattered and I feel I am getting back to my old self. Also, a big thank you to my family, coach and all who still believed in me,” she said.
Ladies in surf life saving
On the Sunshine Coast the ladies in the surf lifesaving competition arena are this year really making their presence felt. First there is that dedicated Open Women’s Surf Boat Crew, the Bandits.
They gained respect this season by continuing to travel from Yeppoon to the Noosa Heads Surf Club, a seven-hour drive, just to row as a boat crew, for the Noosa club. On top of this they also perform their duties as patrol members.
Their dedicated performance not only to boat rowing, but also their patrol duties in both Noosa and their home club, Yeppoon SLSC ( as required in dual club membership) is setting a standard for loyalty that is second to none. Definitely, the talk of the coast.
Then, of course, there was the outstanding performance in the Coolangatta Gold Elite Women’s event. Carla Papac of the Noosa Club finished first and Lana Rogers of Alex third.
Then earlier in the season for what was just the second time in Queensland Life Saving, a female member was elected to the position of club Surf Boat Captain. The young lady was Jessica Arvella of the Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
“When asked if I would be prepared to stand for the job, I wasn’t sure.
“For years the boat section in surf club was always very male-orientated. However, Davy Tomba a highly experienced and respected boat sweep conducted a survey amongst members and they were all in favour of my standing.
“I stood, and was appointed.”
It is Jessica’s opinion that a good boat crew is great for a community as it shows a team spirit within the club.
“Boat crews learn to think of others and not just themselves. With a wide range of crews, it will create a great balance amongst the members of the Coolum club.”
Under her leadership they have worked on creating women’s open, reserve and U23s, crews.
In the men’s division, it is the U19 and U23s. With these crews established and consolidated, the balance that Jessica is aiming for in the club is sure to become a reality.
For Jessica who got her bronze at Corrimal Club in 2009, her interest in boats started the same year after watching a lady named Courtney, who she knew, rowing at a carnival in NSW.
“This really inspired me and got me rowing and now, by a strange twist of fate we are both members of Coolum.”
With regard to the future Jessica said, “The number of crews have increased and this is mainly due to the sweeps training programs that have been organised and conducted.”
Away from lifesaving she works in Marine Conservation, an occupation which can cover all regions of Australia. We wish her well in both her profession and her sport.
Pickleball honours
The recent Australian National Pickleball Championships held in Brisbane saw 450 competitors from all over the country take part. This enrolment made it the biggest Pickleball tournament to be held in the Southern Hemisphere.
The game which was first played in America in 1965 and introduced into Australia in 2015, is now played world-wide. The year 2020 saw the game registered as the Pickleball Association of Australia. It now caters for players aged from nine to 90 and can be played indoor and outdoor.
Competing in 20 different divisions, the Noosa team came home from the Nationals with a total of 20 medals: four gold, eight silver and eight bronze. For such a young club this has been a great result.
But the proudest achievement was having one of the clubs’ founding members, Margot Tredinnick, receive the Pickleball Association of Australia inaugural Spirit of Pickleball Award.
This was in recognition of the work Margot has done facilitating the training and development of referees throughout Australia in the last 18 months, as well as helping to formulate the National Officiating Program for Australian Pickleball. Margot was also recently appointed National Officiating Secretariat.
Congratulations for a job well done.
Weightlifting
The senior season has now begun for the Noosa Barbell Weight Lifting Club.
According to the club flyer, the season which kicked off last weekend, was looking good for the clubs’ senior members, who competed in the Queensland state titles. These were held in Brisbane at the Cougars Weightlifting club.
Zac Schwitter M81 who competed on Saturday afternoon, snatching 110kg then clean and jerking 137kg for a total of 147 kg earning him 4th place. Two weeks prior to the State Titles the club hosted its annual Bush Turkey Cup.
This also doubled as a Queensland club round. This saw all clubs in Queensland compete on the same day, and awarded points on the results of their club members. With a massive turn out from the club, Noosa Barbell Club won the overall points tally for round 3 of the Queensland club round.
The competition itself saw 15 people compete, with all producing fantastic results: with first timers competing and season competitors putting up some huge numbers. For the Barbell club, it is now training hard in preparation for its Christmas competition. Good luck to all.
