By Ron Lane
It was late morning and as we sat and chatted over a coffee, one thing became became quite obvious; here was a man who was dedicated to his job and above all was very sincere in his approach to the young athletes under his care.
His name is Mick Hooper, and at 50-years-of-age this ex-military man has indeed became very successful in his job of choice – coaching the senior elite athletes of the Noosa Little Athletics.
Here again is yet another local sporting achiever, who despite his success not only at local level, but also state and national – is relatively unknown.
For two consecutive years in 2011 and 2012, he was voted Queensland’s Junior Coach of the Year for Little Athletics – awards well deserved.
Now working as the coach of the 15 years and up high performance squad he has set his goal.
“My aim is to see one or more of our seniors make the Australian Senior Team; this would be great for our club. To achieve this, it is important that we provide good training and education,” Mick said.
For Mick, his love of the sporting life started immediately on leaving Bass High School in Sydney at the completion of Year 10.
“I started working at a local restaurant, but after playing for Bulldogs Junior Rugby League, I decided that football was the way I wanted to go. I gave it all I had and made the NSW Under 18 team for two years, playing second row. I then played Under 23. I was in good company in the rep team with such team mates as Andrew Ettinghausen and Greg Alexander. But as you can imagine there were a lot of young blokes with the same idea, so in ’86, I headed off to England and played for a time with Halifax and then Mansfield.”
During his work at the restaurant he met up with a young lady named Val and a relationship started.
After a time she also moved to England, and following his football commitments, they back-packed through Europe.
On their return to Australia, Mick again took up with Bulldogs.
It was about this time that Mick decided to catch up with his brother Alan, who was working at Mooloolaba.
They liked the life and stayed for 12 months and during this time Mick took the opportunity to invest in a block of land at Coolum.
This was to be the start of his love affair with the Sunshine Coast. Also while on the coast he followed on with his football career playing with the Maroochydore Swans and gaining selection with the Falcons.
It was about this time Mick began to think of a career in the services. He obtained the address of a recruiting base that was run by the RAAF.
He was loaded up with the necessary papers to fill out, but on returning found that the base was then run by the army.
After a chat, he was happy with what they had to offer, so for Mick it was the army.
“Next thing I knew I was at Wagga doing basic training in aircraft maintaince. All went well, I did advanced courses finished as dux of the class and as a result was posted to Sydney for two years; then it was on to Darwin.’’
It was while in Sydney that Mick and Val were married.
During their time in Darwin, Val and Mick also invested in a business which resulted in Mick doing two jobs, army during the day and working the family business in later hours.
Also during this time this happily married couple became the proud parents of four children, three boys and a girl.
Then in 2004, after serving fourteen years, Mick’s army career finished.
Mick’s army service saw him do two deployments on active service in East Timor.
“We were based at Suai on the border and we worked as the maintenance crews on the helicopters.”
Starting his military long service, the family returned to the Sunshine Coast looking for a home base.
They finally settled on a block of land in a new development known as Noosa Banks.
For the family living in the Banks was a busy life.
The kids joined the Noosa Nippers in the summer months and Pirates rugby league in winter.
With his football background Mick also stepped into Pirates Junior League which saw him accepting a coaching role, a role which he held for nine years; this was done under the auspices of Australian Rugby League Development Program.
It was during this period that he also started doing Friday afternoon coaching with Little Athletics.
The Friday sessions became a family affair with wife Val and the kids being involved.
“It was great.” said Mick. “We were all involved – with Val giving it her total support as a worker. She saw it as a family sport with the emphasis being on family, fun and fitness.”
Such has been Val’s commitment to the Noosa Little Athletics, that in 2016 she received the high honour of being elected to the Board of Directors for Queensland Little Athletics.
Her dedication has seen her hold various positions, amongst these being Regional Coordinator Sunshine Coast Centre Management.
Val is currently employed as a teacher’s aide at the Sunshine Beach Primary School.
Having been in the club for many years and with the children also being involved, one could say it has definitely been a family affair.
“In 2009,” said Mick, “Ian Smith, an administrator with Little Athletics and chief organiser for the Annual Noosa Gift, had commenced planning for a scholarship that would enable us to formulate coaching of elite athletes.”
Then in 2012 the move to establish a senior club, that would give the Little Athletics athletes a chance to continue their career without having to move away, was successfully undertaken.
This was done with the full backing of Queensland Athletics.
Little Athletics, senior club and elite coaching – everything was happening.
Regarding coaching, there were three sessions per week and those who moved into the elite level, trained with Mick – he was then the head coach with Level 4 certificate and was ably supported by Rebecca Brice and Ash Brice.
“With our goal being selection in the senior team, from 15 up, the fun is over and things become serious – with good training and education we hope to hold them and head them in the right direction.”
Regarding results, in the last eight years, twelve athletes have won medals at national level, they have produced seven Australian champions and five have represented Australia at junior level.
“There have been two occasions that really stand out,” Mick said. “One was getting Jordan Csabi our Under 18, 200 metre Australian champion to China for the 2014 Youth Olympics; and the second was last year’s Noosa Gift.
“Jordan was somewhat unique.
“He didn’t take things seriously until he was 15, but with his natural talent and hard work he achieved success at state level, then at 17 years he won the Under 18 200 at the Nationals; he was on his way to China – and the Youth Olympics.
“Regarding the Noosa Gift, this was won by our 15-year-old school girl, Samantha Stanley, and it was the first time in the history of the Gift that it was won by a female. But that wasn’t the only thing; she was also the youngest ever winner. Add to this, another of our elite Zane Branco finished third.
“Down through the years at National level, twelve of Noosa’s elite have between them won some 60 medals. Sad to say that in our community the achievements of not only these athletes, but all involved in this club, are relatively unknown.
“Yet again at this season’s recent State Titles, the senior club returned home with seven medals – four gold, two silver and one bronze – and three of their elite, were unable to attend.”
But to Mick and Val Hooper and all in the club, we say, those in the know, take pride because when all is said and done – you are all Our People.
