By RON LANE
IT HAS been a great couple of weeks for the Sunshine Beach SLSC. Their major achievement was, without a doubt their U/17 Patrol Team being named in the final five in the teams’ category for the Queensland Sports Awards 2014. In a division that attracted 37 entries from all sports throughout the state, for a team of 16-year-olds, this has been outstanding. What makes this award even better is their entry was a Beach Patrol Team, and this is what we are all about. Beach Patrolling.
Following this their fund-raising Ten Grand in the Hand was another success. This function which has been in existence for several years was one of their most successful.
“This year’s event was outstanding,” said club captain Scott Summer.
“Some time ago, we decided to extend and upgrade our verandah facilities and as a result our supporters at the Ten Grand Sunday were able to dine wine and socialise in comfort.”
The verandah has definitely been a wise investment for Sunshine. It also makes the thankless job of fund-raising easier.
Add to this on Sunday 16 new members passed their final assessment thus qualifying them for their bronze medallion.
“This could have not come at a better time,” said President Craig Law.
“We have now entered the Christmas season and to have 16 new members available for patrol roster is a big plus.”
Also on the weekend, Sunshine ran a surf carnival for their U/14 to U/16 nippers. Held in trying surf this was a great experience for our future lifesavers. All said a great couple of weeks for this very progressive club.
It is good to see our surf clubs continuing to spread their wings and get involved in sporting activities other than surf. Last week, the Noosa Club had the privilege of extending the Noosa Hand of Friendship to the Brisbane Lions AFL Club. On Friday, evening the Surf Club played host to the management and players. This gave them the chance to dine and meet with locals. Then early Saturday morning, volunteers from Noosa assisted in setting out an obstacles course, part of the day’s events on Main Beach. These events were open to other clubs and members of the local AFL and Jetts Fitness took up the challenge.
Having arrived in Noosa on the Wednesday of last week, they were for the next four nights billeted at the R.A.C.V. Resort Noosa. Two of their activities which I think would list as highlights, were busking in Hasting Street with the funds going to the local Nippers, and a tough P.T. session conducted on Main Beach by members of our elite Special Emergency Response Team. Speaking with staff members they said they were overwhelmed by the hospitality they received from all concerned.
While the Lions were doing their bit, Noosa Surf Club played host to yet another sporting event when Dave Glassock and his Junior Activities (Nipper) people organised and helped conduct a Sunshine Coast Youth Challenge Surf Carnival. This Youth category is a relatively new concept which provides competition for our U/14 and U/15 members. It is planned that they will have their own events at State and National Titles. If this succeeds, it will be a massive step in the right direction because for too many years these age groups were not properly catered for.
In the words of a veteran Noosa coach Clint Irwin, “Look at this, it does not get any better. Our 14s and 15s being coached and competing. They are being properly looked after.” Definitely a great community week for Noosa.
