By Ron Lane
“Another successful year on our beach with zero lives lost in our local waters. Well done to all for the hours on the sand.”
With these words, Craig Law, President of Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club, welcomed readers to the 2016/17 Annual Report. Tabled at the recent Annual General Meeting, the document gives a full and comprehensive report of the season past.
There were many highlights, but unfortunately like our other local club, there are too many to list.
Sunshine has experienced one of its best seasons ever.
Further in the report Law states, “Beach visitations were 46,667, rescues 16, and this was backed up with 2434 preventative actions.” These figures tell us that on this very open and dangerous beach the standard of beach patrolling has been second to none.
“The club claimed an unprecedented six awards at the Branch Excellence in Lifesaving Events 2016. The awards for the year were; Club Captain Scott Summers, Surf Sports Jo Redwood, Rookie Coach Brock Redwood, Team Manager Craig Law, and the Aggregate Best Surf Sports Club.
“Regarding the prestigious Buhks-Wilkes Trophy for the Best Club of the Year, Sunshine finished in third place, their best ever placing.
“To my fellow board Directors, my personal heartfelt thanks for your sterling efforts over the past season. This season saw the first ever appointment of a full time paid Head Coach, Clint Robinson, and this appointment – supported by a top coaching team – proved very successful.”
Warick Redwood, President of the Supporters Committee, his directors, Club Manager Tim Johnson and staff, were also congratulated.
Regarding Surf Sport Directors Dan Moore and Peter Nolan, coaches and Team Sunshine (the competitors) have all been instrumental ensuring that their surf sports program was one of the best.
In ending his report said in part, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the commitment and dedication to your club.”
“Well done to all for the hours on the sand,” Club Captain Scott Summers said. He then went on to say “Our biggest challenge was meeting IRB crew and driver requirements and this remains my greatest concern in the coming months. We have put a proposal to Branch and State Centre to consider the inclusion of a wave runner as part of our approved patrol equipment.”
He then thanked personnel in the lifesaving department, in particular the Patrol Captains.
“You are the muscle that holds together the backbone of lifesaving in our club.”
Major awards of the year in Lifesaving were: Patrol of the Year – Patrol 3, Patrol Captain of the Year – Steven Boyd, Lifesaver- Jamie Gordon, Most Improved Lifesaver – Chris Price, Outstanding New Lifesaver – Asha Millhouse, Most Patrol Hours – Jamie Gordon, Clubman of the Year – Karl Gottschalk, Volunteer of the Year – Clare Derrington, Youth – Tom O’Connor, Chaos Cup – Dean Smallman and the S.S. Kuhn Disaster Cup – Nic Brewer.
Director of Finance Yvette McKinley thanked the Active Board of Directors and the Supporters Committee for adhering to a strong budget culture.
She also gave special mention to the Nippers, Surf Sports, Youth Cadet and Lifesaving.
Yvette then thanked the many local businesses that “continue to sponsor our club to ensure that we maintain the essential community service of providing a patrolled beach.”
She also expressed her best to their Supporter Club (small division) on being elected onto the Clubs Queensland Hall of Fame.
In the arena of Surf Sports Director, Peter Nolan, tabled another success story.
The appointment of a full time coach, Clint Robinson, and outstanding results from the coaching panel, great medal tally from Branch through to the Nationals in both surf and pool rescue.
Awards of the Year saw an outstanding effort from Ruby Nolan taking three top awards – Competitor of the Year, Opens and Youth.
Pool Rescue Competitor and Outstanding Achievement went to Nick Sloman – to all others well done.
For Junior Activities (Nippers) it was a year of firsts.
First time for a female Director, Heather Mackay; and first time with a new coaching structure.
Sign on day was a success with 165 Nippers signing for the season; and Sunday sessions were very popular.
End of season saw many encouragement awards handed out from Under 7 to Under14.
During the year Nick Sloman’s effort of winning the two kilometre Open Surf Swim at the Nationals, then immediately driving home with his father to do his afternoon patrol, epitomises the spirit of what a true surf club is all about.
Well done to Sunshine on a great season!
