At the ripe old age of 18, Taj Marsh is certainly starting to make his mark in his chosen sport of weight lifting. Born in New Zealand in 2004, Taj, along with his family, came to live in Noosa and obtained his education at Sunshine Beach Primary and State High Schools.
“They were good years and I graduated 2021. On leaving school, I started doing support and part time work, but then decided to enter uni where I started to study for my Bachelor of Exercise Physiology and now, studying part time, I have just finished my first semester.”
His chosen avenue of study is the result of a very active sporting life.
In 2017 Taj joined the Nipper branch of the Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving club where his dad Woogie was coaching.
His years as a senior nipper saw him competing in the U14 to U17 in board races and beach sprint, all under the supervision of his father Woogie who now works as head coach for the nippers.
Then in 2018 he obtained his bronze medallion and commenced his duties as a member of Patrol 4 at Noosa’s Main Beach.
However, his young years also saw him, at seven years of age, again in the company of his father (a black belt), become involved in the martial arts. He joined the Caza Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club in Noosa Heads and trained under the guidance of Professor Yoshi Hasegawa, one of the finest instructors in Australia. Starting in the junior section, he has now moved up into the senior ranks.
Now as a blue belt in the senior grade, he still finds time to continue his training despite his weight lifting and patrol duties.
Training as a member of the Noosa Barbell Club, his career in weightlifting is really starting to take off. This year has seen him, while representing Australia, win the Junior Oceanic Championship in his weight class. Also last year training under the supervision of his father Woogie, also head coach of the Barbell Club, he competed in the Youth Division, winning Queensland and national titles.
But perhaps his most pleasing aspect of the year was finally gaining his Australian citizenship.
“I am very grateful to the members of the community for its support and help in getting my application across the line and the timing was good.
“It enabled me to represent my country at the Oceanic Championships.”
As with all successful athletes it is no short journey. The commitment required sees him training six days a week, covering six to eight sessions in that week.
Away from the hectic world of sport, his other love has been playing the trombone.
“This started while I was in high school and I played from age 12 to 16. With regards to my music, I love playing jazz, it was great fun.”
To know that here in our midst we have a quiet, well-mannered young man, not only representing his country but also winning, is indeed very refreshing. But he does not stand alone, for also starting to make her mark in sport is his younger sister Kaiya. And like her big brother, her choice of sport is lifesaving and weightlifting.
Lifesaving
With the next surfing season just some three to four months ahead, the boat captains are starting to organise their crews for the forthcoming season.
Coolum has for the first time ever elected a woman as boat captain and she goes by the name of Jessica Arvella. According to spokesperson Dave Tomba, she has some 12 to 13 seasons’ experience and has also represented both South Australia and Queensland.
At present, Coolum has men’s and women’s open grade crews as well as a women’s reserve grade. Their last season’s U23 Australian gold medal winners are now rowing reserve grade and all crews continue to row under the sponsorship of Richardson and Wrench.
In July all being well Coolum will take delivery of a new boat. We wish them well.
For Noosa their boat section will consist of U19 and U23 and reserve grade women’s, U19 men’s and masters. The Noosa crews will also row under sponsors Richardson and Wrench plus Habit Early Learning Centre. Crews will be swept by Mick Gardner and Stewart Cooper.
This year on Friday 15 July the Sunshine Beach club will play host to the Sunshine Coast Branch Awards of Excellence evening. We hope all goes well.
This is always a big event as it acknowledges all those in the lifesaving movement who have performed above and beyond the norm in the previous season.
Rugby League
For the Noosa Pirates Rugby League club, it has been a very busy time. On Friday 24 June the club held its fundraising Grey Beards Legends Lunch and on the weekend the club travelled to Gympie for Round 10 of the competition.
Happy to say the luncheon held at the Noosa Golf Club was a full house. In his words of welcome, club president Paul Dwyer thanked the large crowd for their attendance.
“Your being here today gives us a feeling of pride as it shows your support for the Pirates Club. To all involved in making this a success, our sponsors in particular, many thanks.”
For the occasion, which was sponsored by Noosa Village River Resort, Heads of Noosa, Andy Raymond Unfiltered and the Noosa Golf Club, it was the top line guest speakers that drew the crowd.
Darren (Boof) Lehman test batsman and former Australian cricket coach, plus Jason Hetherington retired State of Origin and Australian Rugby League Test player, had the crowd’s full attention with stories from their years.
Under control of master of ceremony Andy Raymond, the speakers were given plenty of leash to reminisce, much to the enjoyment of the crowd.
Regarding the late Shane Warne, his acknowledgement as the greatest cricketer he had ever encountered, plus his description of several of Warne’s bowling spells was indeed something to remember: also, his emotional words when speaking of the death of Andrew Symonds were words of the utmost respect.
Jason Heatherington spoke of his time in the big league, but perhaps his descripton of his interviews on British media and their problems with the meanings of Australian slang, was cause of much laughter.
All in all, both men were very well received. Following the speeches an auction was held and articles were moved at a good price.
Out on the Gympie football paddocks for the main games, Pirates vs Gympie Division 1, saw Gympie finish on top 38 to 18. In Division 2 Mary Valley also finished too strong to come out winners 28 to 6. But in the women’s, it was a different story with Pirates saving face for the men by getting a win 26 to 10. Definitely a weekend with a difference.
