Lifelong surfer and Noosa surf festival volunteer since it started decades ago, Alan Thomas was the deserving winner of the Respect Award In Memory of Bill Wallace at last weekend’s inaugural Noosa World Surfing Reserve Community Awards.
In presenting the award, past-president of the NWSR and co-founder of the surf festival, Phil Jarratt praised Al for a lifetime of service to the surfing community.
“Al is the best beach marshal I’ve ever seen – he’s there in the dark before the first heat of the day and he’s still there to pick up the competitor shirts at the completion of the last, and never asks for anything in return for his efforts. I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of this, our first Respect Award.”
The Respect Award, named in honour of late local surfing elder Bill Wallace, was one of 10 awards presented in front of a packed house at the Noosa Surf Museum. All winners received a beautiful framed surfscape by photographer Paul Smith.
NNWSR president Kirra Molnar said she and the stewardship council for the Reserve hoped to make the awards night and party an annual event.
“It’s a celebration of all the people in the Noosa surfing community who give back. They embody our motto of Share, Respect, Preserve.”
Other winners were:
Environmental Award: Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast.
Cultural Award: Dingira Warrai project.
Industry Innovation Award: Campbell Designed.
Photography Award: Fenna de King.
Videography Award: Wilzen Crawford.
Senior Male Community Surfer: Jack Lewis, Paul Peterson (tied).
Senior Female Community Surfer: Mason Schremmer.
Junior Male Community Surfer: Team Mad Froth.
Junior Female Community Surfer: Lucy Bowen .
Respect Award (In Memory of Bill Wallace): Alan Thomas.
