As I lay on the table watching the staff apply the finishing touches to my second skin graft, I suddenly became aware that both were low down on my left ankle. When I made a casual remark about this a staff member asked, “Why are you so surprised? I will bet anything that you don’t bother to bend right over and put block out on your ankles: and if we had not found this second sun cancer, you would have been in big trouble.”
“How very true,” I replied. We never think of the ankles, it’s always the face, arms, legs and shoulders, that we care about. Therefore, there can be no doubt about it, that the unprotected area of the body, the ankles, is, where danger lies in waiting. And who is in most danger of these sunspots? Easy, our little Nippers and the Nipper mums and dads, parents who stand on the water edge, watching their kids in the shallow waters.
This may seem trivia, but however it is a cold fact of life and unfortunately, may not surface for years to come. With the constant media coverage of the sun danger let’s take care, be aware and help protect our kids’ mums and dads, from this danger that lurks on the water’s edge. Remember what I was told by the sun doctor and his team: protect the ankles don’t laugh it off: and enjoy the sun without being careless. Have a happy season.
It may be a small matter but is one to think about. It is one of those little things that means a lot.
Surf Sports.
In keeping with last season’s high success rates, in our world of Surf Lifesaving competition, Sunshine Beaches, Electra Outram is really making people sit up and take note. This charming young lady is certainly a credit to her club, coaches and all involved.
Last weekend, Electra took out her maiden series victory in Round 3 of the Shaw and Partners Iron Series, in spectacular fashion at Newcastle Beach on Saturday. She then showed her dominance with a podium finish on Sunday in Round 4. In career best form Outram has been dominant all season leading round 1, until the very last leg and showing she is the one to watch: crossing the line convincingly in round 3 on Saturday to take her debut series win.
This 23-year-old, is known for her tenacious training and determination which has seen her quick rise to the top, training under Sunshine Beach Head Coach and former Nutri Grain Iron Man, Wes Berg and swimming at Noosa Aquatic Centre with Sunshine Beach Life Member Max Pettigrove.
“Electra is an incredible athlete, and this series win is very well deserved. She is one of the best trainers I have worked with, and it was only a matter of time before she had her breakthrough win. I am sure there will be many more wins for her,” says coach Berg. Electra also made history for her club, becoming the very first Iron woman to win a professional series race.
“We are all incredibly proud of Electra, she is an inspiration to our entire Surf Sports team of over 100 kids: they all look up to her and follower her races closely. She is wonderful with the young kids and paving the way for the next generation of Sunshine Beach athletes, “says assistant Coach Jade Berg.
Electra leads going into the final rounds of the Shaw and Partners Iron Series at North Burleigh on February 1: this gives her the chance to win $25,000 in prize money. I am sure that all at Noosa Today wish this young lady all the very best. Also, a big well done to her coaching staff and the Sunshine Beach club in general.
Weightlifting.
The year 2025 is shaping up to be a big one for the crew at the Noosa Barbell Club: already they have been busy preparing for the year ahead. With the season starting early February, the club has been preparing their athletes and introducing new members to the club: but most important of all making the new bods aware of the sport t of weightlifting.
The club is also working on a new club initiative: a Noosa Barbell club scholarship that will expose the sport of weightlifting to the youth of Noosa community. This is still in the planning stage, but coach Woogie Marsh and club President Taj Marsh hope to have more details out to the community by early February.
The first competition of the year is on the 15th of February. This will be held at the club at 1/11 Lionel Donovan Drive from 9.30am and the club can be contacted via Instagram @noosabarbellclub.
Noosa Athletics.
A report from Noosa’s Head Coach Mick Hooper tells us that the club is once again up and running for yet another big season. With Mick Hooper, Level 4 High Performance Coach and Life Member at the helm, Noosa Athletics could not be in better hands: and having one of our runners wearing the green and gold at last year’s Olympics speaks for itself.
“Noosa Little Athletics will return to competition this Friday 17 January after a short Christmas break. We now head into the busy season for competition for both Little Athletics and Noosa Athletics. The squad training group is back in full swing preparing for the upcoming Regional, State and National championships.
For the Little Athletics they will be held in Adelaide and for the senior team they will be held in Perth. This is the business end of the season which see the athletes reap their rewards for the efforts they have made throughout the year.”
Once again, the high standard of coaching from within our community, comes to the forefront. With such coaches as Woogie Marsh weightlifting, Mick Hooper athletics, Wes Berg, Jade Berg and Max Pettigrove surf lifesaving and Mark Evans amateur boxing just to name a few, who knows what lays ahead.
