By Ron Lane
Mark it in your diary, Saturday 23 November 2019 will be one of Noosa’s biggest sporting events of the year. The Noosa Gift. This track and field event, will this year celebrate its 10th year and all indications are it will be the best ever.
Run by the Noosa Little Athletics Club, the carnival will be held at the Girraween Sports Complex and will feature a wide range of events. The first ever running of the Gift was held at Reid Park in Tewantin on 10 October 2010 and since then the club has gone from strength to strength, producing over the years, several champions at both State and National level. It also had athletes chosen to represent Australia at International meets. Definitely a club with a future.
Speaking of a future the Noosaville Sunshine Coastal Martial Arts Dojo continues to not only teach the art of Shotokan Karate in the strict traditional form, but also to produce winners at competition level. At the Queensland Invitation Championships held in Brisbane the club once again came home with many gold medals but most important received the award, the Club of the Tournament. “We are happy with these results,” said Head Sensei (teacher) Bryan Dukas, “it is great preparation for the Australian Championships and the World Shotokan Karate Federation Titles (in Tokyo) both of which will be held in August.”
Saturday was a big day for the Dolphins Rugby Union Club; it was their annual Sponsors Day, the day when the club acknowledge the importance of these organisations plus the incredible support shown by Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien.
To mark the occasion the Dolphins played host to a visit from Caloundra Rugby Union club with games between the Colts, the Ladies, Reserve grade and Seniors. Dolphins President Donald McKill thanked the sponsors when he said, ‘’without your support it would be very hard to run a successful club. Your support has been unbelievable. The work of our Federal Minster Llew O‘Brien in obtaining a government grant that will enable us to build a new machinery shed; this is indeed a major step forward.”
Also In his welcome Junior President Rob Frey said, “Our sponsors are the life blood of our club. Juniors are not just about football, but above all teaching our youth the importance of good conduct and their place in the community and also good community skills.”
Major sponsors whose contribution has been outstanding are Madills, Ray White Real Estate, Doonan Sand and Gravel and Kannards Hire with many other smaller sponsors in support. On the field of play it was a good day for Dolphins, three wins from four games; a win for the Colts 64-3, Reserve grade 19-7 and in the match of the day the Seniors won 38-12. Unfortunately the under strength Ladies, went down to Caloundra 34-5.
Saturday evening members and invited guests attended the Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Clubs Annual Dinner and Presentation of Trophies. Held at Noosa Springs it was well attended. Amongst guests was Llew O’Brien who now stands with John Madill as Club Patron.
Club president Scott Summers welcomed all and congratulated the members on their patrol and competition achievements. Major awards went to Doug Gould Lifesaver of the Year, Patrol Captain Simon Thompson and Surf Sports Freya Wilson. Also in attendance were nine who proudly wore the badge Life Member. “This is the biggest number we have ever had in attendance,” said a proud club captain James Ross.
