By Ron Lane
For Ray White Noosa Dolphins Rugby Union Club, it was certainly a great weekend. It started Friday noon, when the famous annual Noosa Dolphins Long Lunch got underway.
With a capacity house of 230 patrons, life members, sponsors guest speakers and supporters, it created an atmosphere that ensured a happy successful setting for what lay ahead: the consumption of good food, wine and good fellowship. Add to this, the Master of Ceremony was our renowned Australian poet, and master of humour, Rupert McCall. However, apart from promoting the game, the main theme was to also raise funds for three separate charities. These were Scence Rugby, Hearts in Union and Sunnykids Charities.
Scence Rugby is a program which helps kids with various needs and Dolphins showed their support donating $2500. These funds will help with a rugby program, new kits and, above all, raise awareness for a fantastic cause. Hearts in Union supports players who have had their careers cut short by life changing injuries such as spinal or other crippling injuries. They received a donation of $5000 from the Droopy Dolphins and the Noosa Supporters.
On Saturday, a team from Sunnykids Charity, along with Mayor Clare Stewart and local MP Sandy Bolton, were on hand to raise awareness for the third local charity, a charity which works to raise awareness against domestic violence. Following an afternoon game of rugby, players worked to support this by jersey auctions resulting in a donation of $2500.
‘’A total effort of $10,000 to three separate charities has been a hugh effort,’’ said Mayor Clare Stewart.
“The Noosa community, is extremely proud and grateful for what this club has been able to achieve over the weekend.”
The president supported this when he said, “Everyone involved, should be extremely proud of the funds the club raised over the weekend and donated back to rugby and local community charities.”
This weekend has really highlighted just what some sporting clubs can achieve by becoming involved in community needs away from the playing fields, and the “me factor” When they do, it should definately not go unmentioned.
During his Friday welcome to guests, club president Donald McKill had given a very big vote of thanks to the club sponsors and, in doing so, noted a lot of those present were also assisting other sports and organisations throughout the community.
“This is something outstanding and so on behalf of not only the Dolphins, but all other clubs and organisations, I thank you most sincerely.”
He then introduced and give a “big welcome” to the legends of rugby, former Wallabies who were in attendance and about to entertain us with their experiences in this great game. Rod McCall, Michael O’Connor, Peter Slattery, Chris Roach, Andy McIntyre and Rod Davis are all well known to the supporters of the game. Then the MC Rupert McCall stepped forward and after reciting one of his humorous poems, for which he is now renowned, bought the legends on stage for what can only be described as a good hour of humorous tales of Wallabies on tour, some of which came from within the walls of that citadel of British Royalty, Buckingham Palace.
This was followed by a series of six auctions of prizes donated by various sponsors and conducted by Justin Sykes of the Ray White Group.
On Saturday afternoon Noosa played host to an A grade game against Wynnum club, resulting in a big win for Noosa. At Nambour the ladies scored an impressive win 44-7, however, in their away game, the Colts lost 29-27 on the bell.
All in all, it was a very busy and successful weekend for the Noosa Dolphins.
For the boat crews of the Noosa Surf Club, the training programs for the forthcoming season are underway. Now rated in the top 10 group of Australian crews, holding their rating, virtually requires a training program covering 11 months of the year. As part of this, since 2017, the Noosa boaties, have been taking part in an annually Yeppoon to Great Keppel Island row with their sister surf boat club, Yeppoon. This year a good attendance of some 25-30 people, consisting of athletes, coaches/sweeps, families and support crew, plus the Yeppoon Coast Guard who were there to ensure a safe journey, made the trip well worthwhile.
An 18km row on the Friday from Yeppoon to Great Keppel Island, in a time of 2hrs30 min was a good start to the weekend.
The hospitality shown by the North Keppel Island Education Centre, (who supplied a good feed) was first class. Following this, some played the tourist bit, snorkelling and sunbaking. Next morning saw another 5km row to an adjacent beach where the crews underwent coaching on the finer points of rowing. This was followed by another 5km row back to their base. On arrival, they relaxed in preparation for the Sunday morning 18km row back to the mainland.
Speaking of the training camp, coach/sweep Dave Tomba said, “It was a great weekend with a mixture of hard work, technical training, collaboration, building relationships and assisting Yeppoon SLSC, to build their boat section.”
It is training camps such as this, that make one realise what great ambassadors for our Noosa community, a team of well- behaved athletes, can be.
Another athlete, now well into her training program is our local girl, Lana Rogers. Lana, our present- day Australian Nutrigrain Iron Woman Champion and winner of the Coolangatta Gold, is now into week eight of her 20- week program. Regarding her training, Lana said, “I am very happy with my progress. My coach, Sharlene Kelly, who I have been with now for four years, has me on a great six day a week program. This will have me ready for my first big event for the season, the Coolangatta Gold on October 16, Covid permitting.” We wish them well.
Well, it has happened once again. Another of our quiet, unknown achievers, has been appointed coach in his chosen sport, for the state of Queensland. Our new head coach, for Queensland karate is Sensei Bryan Dukas 6th Dan, Shotokan Karate. This appointment will see him involved in preparation for the upcoming national titles in September. Following this, he will be required to draft a two-year development program for the state. With karate in these Olympics, the timing could not be better, as it can only serve to help development, regardless of the different style of this fast- growing sport.
