By Ron Lane
Despite having won many medals at state and national level in two different sports, surf ski and kayak racing, with the latter involving a two-month tour of Europe as a part of the Australian kayak team) Noosa’s Sharlene Kelly definitely remains relatively unknown.
“There is no big money to be earned in my two sports of surf ski and kayak racing; and there is also virtually no publicity. However I love both sports, I have made great friends and have had the opportunity to travel overseas.’’
When discussing what was required to achieve selection for the Australian kayak team, it became quite apparent that it was definitely no easy task. Sharlene’s weekly program consisted of three gym sessions, two ski paddling sessions, two cross-training sessions, plus time in the kayaks.
Born in Blacktown Sydney in 1978 the family, parents Alan and Lorraine Meredith, along with sons Brenden and Darren and daughter Sharlene moved to Eumundi when Sharlene was only nine.
“My dad had his own business in Sydney building bus bodies when they decided to sell up and move. After living in Eumundi for some time, for part of which we lived in a caravan, Dad moved us to Pomona and in doing so took on an IGA franchise. I have always thought what a challenge it must have been for my parents, moving from the bus building industry into the business of supermarkets; but it was a great family thing because my brothers and I started to work in the shop.”
After completing her education, first at Eumundi Primary then Noosa District High, Sharlene started working full-time in the in the family business.
“During weekends my friends and I used to visit Noosa Main Beach. I was 15 at the time and we just wanted to play beach volleyball. However I started watching what the young lifesavers were doing, became interested and decided to join. By the age of 17 I had obtained my bronze medallion.”
After this Sharleen met up with Noosa coach and Iron Man legend Alan Coates and became interested in the surf ski.
“I first learned to paddle skis at 17 under Alan – he was great and we had some fun in the process. I particularly remember Alan teaching me to balance on the ski by laying across the back of it – a strange way of doing things but it worked. Like a lot of other young people in the club I owe him a lot. When we lost him to a heart attack while training in the waters off Little Cove in April 2013, we lost a great clubmate and mentor.
I started competing at 18 then in 1996 had the chance to go to the Nationals as an observer; and after what I saw I was hooked. Then in the 1997-’98 season I started in serious competition.”
Then in 1998 came the big event, the event that was to encourage Sharlene to push even harder; representing Noosa at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Kurrawa Beach.
“It was big surf, typical Kurrawa – there were skis, paddles and clubbies floating around in the break all over the place.”
Sharlene, gritting her teeth gave it her all and made it through to the final. In the final one of the girls got a clear run home and was first onto the beach.
“There were about five of us just back behind the break, a set came and we went for it; there was a bit of confusion then suddenly it hit me, I had finished third.
“I just couldn’t believe it, two years to a bronze medal at the Aussies. I probably would not have been jumping up and down so much had I known it would take me 18 years to win the gold. But however that’s sport and I finally did achieve it.”
It was in late 1998 that Sharlene had switched to the Mooloolaba club where she not only met up with the man who was to become her lifelong coach but also her husband Chris Kelly; a clubbie who, away from lifesaving worked as a plumber.
After training under Chris for several years Sharlene began to think along a different line. “Maybe,” she said laughing, “it would be cheaper to marry your coach than to keep paying for his service. So I did and now we are the proud parents of two beautiful boys, Indra born 2005 and Xander 2009.”
During her time in Mooloolaba 1999-’02 she continued her success, winning two gold and two bronze medals at both state and national titles. Also apart from his role of coaching and competing, Chris made an outstanding contribution to lifesaving when he started what was to become known as Surf Education Program. This was a system whereby junior lifesavers received a properly structured training program: so successful was this system that it would be adopted Australia-wide.
Also during her time as a competitor Sharlene represented Kawana surf club where from 2003 till 2006 she added another five medals to her tally (two gold, two silver, one bronze) the highlight being the 2006 Gold Medal Interclub World Championship at Lorne Victoria.
“That medal was really something – it took some time to sink in; we were all over the moon.”
It was also during the period of 2002-’04 that her training had taken her to Australian Institute of Sport.
But looking back 1999 would have to be for Sharlene a memorable year, for not only was she made an Athlete of the Queensland Academy of Sport, but also had her introduction into the sport of sprint kayaking.
This sport that would once again see this remarkable athlete not only win medals at both state and national level, but also be chosen to represent her country in the K2 and K4 division and tour Europe for the World Cup.
Sharlene she now considers it is time for her to achieve her final sporting ambition; that is to put something back into the sport from which she achieved so much.
“To start coaching the young and see them develop, gives me a thrill; it is something I really enjoy doing. Also by coaching the young I feel that I am helping the community.”
In this capacity she now works as ski coach for the Noosa surf club.
Down through the years Chris’s work as a plumbing contractor saw them change locations several times, for as with all tradies he had to follow the work; but now with a home at Doonan and their local business interests, they have become settled. “Indra our eldest has just finished at St Thomas More and next year he starts at St Teresas. His young brother Xander is still at St Thomas More,” said Chris.
For some time Chris had been aware that in the Noosa community there was no established base for the supply of sporting supplements; also while working at a local gym Sharlene had really noticed the benefits of correct supplements for athletes.
Then some five years ago with their successful background in sport, they moved into this arena with the end result being the Rapid FX Sports Nutrition Shop.
However there was also another venture, this time in the food industry, manufacturing organic chicken broth.
Soon they began to realise that the commitments necessary to successfully run two businesses, continue coaching and most important raise a family, had become too much, so the nutrition business went on the market.
But now with the time to stop and add up the achievements of this team of Sharlene the athlete and Chris the coach/ husband, it is to say the least outstanding: for Sharlene no big financial rewards and next to no publicity.
However her pride in her achievements, her dignity and above all the gratitude she shows to her proud parents Alan and Lorraine, tells us that here indeed is a quite achiever, a lady to be respected.
