Buoyed by big bucks

MORE than 110 guests joined forces to help raise funds for the Indigenous Buoyed Up program at the annual Buoyed Up dinner last weekend, held at the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club.
Diners were treated to guest speakers Olympic sailing champion Tom Slingsby and Australian Sailing Magazine editor Roger McMillan.
Proceedings were kicked off by Andy Phipps and program patron and Minister for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs Glen Elmes, who explained the benefits of the Buoyed Up program.
The Noosa Buoyed Up program is a five-day camp for Indigenous and vulnerable children between the ages of 7 and 12 who complete the Yachting Australia Tackers Introduction sailing program along with cultural sessions from local tribal leaders, a fishing clinic sponsored by Davos Tackle World and a Surfing program on Noosa main Beach sponsored by Merrick’s Learn to Surf.
Five times World Laser Champion and London Olympic Gold Medallist, Tom Slingsby, entertained the guests with stories of his crushing defeat at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 when he was the outstanding favourite and the soul searching required to back up and have another shot at the title four years later.
With the support of all who attended, sponsors who donated auction items –the Westpac Foundation and The Sisters Charity and Complex Security– the Bouyed Up program was able to raise almost $30,000.