By RON LANE
On Monday 13 April 2015 some 7000 lifesavers representing 311 surf clubs from all round Australia will gather on North Kirra Beach to contest the Australian National Surf Life Saving Championships. We wish them well, but above all we send our best wishes to those who will compete wearing the colours of our two local clubs, Sunshine Beach and Noosa Heads. At the recent Queensland Titles, both our local clubs achieved good results; in particular the juniors. During the Nationals the Bilinga club will host both the champion lifesaver and first aid
competition. In Champion Lifesaver, a blue ribbon event, Charlotte Webber will represent Noosa and in The First Aid, Noosa will be represented in the under-15 and 19 divisions.
In the swim section, Sunshine’s under-14 boys won all their team events at the state titles and for the girls Oliver Emanuel and Talisa Brady performed well. These are just a few of the many
young guns who will represent our two clubs. I am sure they will do us proud.
With the number of competitors, plus families and supporters, it is easy to see why this is the biggest carnival of its type in the world.
Keeping this in mind, let us not forget that next year from 16 -24 April 2016, the National Titles will be coming to our own backyard, namely Maroochydore, Alexander Headlands and Mooloolaba. These three clubs will play host and at the completion of the carnival, many of the above-named people, who plan their annual holidays around the titles will take off to visit local beaches and towns. This will be a great opportunity for Tourism Noosa.
Two weeks ago the light aircraft crash at Noosa’s Main Beach highlighted the vital role played by our I.R.B. (Inflatable Rescue Boats) teams. Despite the fact that they conduct some training
sessions during the summer months, the major part of their training happens in winter. This comes about because the IRB patrols are now a major part of our system. As such, they must
remain at their home beaches where they conduct not only normal patrols, but courtesy patrols.
At the completion of the surf club patrol season, the competition season for the IRB teams will get underway. Already, a heavy program has been drawn up. On 2 May a carnival will be held
at Burleigh Heads and following this on 7 May, a two-day carnival will be conducted at Broadbeach. Then on 30 May the Noosa club will host another two-day event. Suggested
programs for this consist of events for the under-23s, opens and masters. Events will include boat races, mass rescues and multiple boat rescues.
These events are designed around what can, and has happened on beaches around Australia. By holding them at various locations with different conditions, it gives crews the
confidence to handle whatever comes their way. When one takes into consideration the varying conditions of Noosa’s Main Beach, the treacherous Noosa Bar with its sandbanks and
Alexandria Bay with its big surf, it is imperative that this sort of carnival program be conducted.
As we have said before, this type of rescue work is for the dedicated lifesaver and is definitely not for the faint hearted. We wish all involved, the drivers, crews and support teams a busy time.
Patrol captains reported big crowds for the Easter break with safe conditions. At Noosa, a swimmer was rescued at West Beach and at Alexandria Bay a board rider who got into
difficulties, was rescued when the Sunshine Beach courtesy A.T.V.roving patrol arrived on this lonely unpatrolled beach. Indeed a very lucky young man.
