By Ron Lane
With so many conflicts going on around the world it is only right that we, the people who our service men and women serve and protect should, on 11 November, take the occasion to say a very sincere thank you – in particular to those who, as a result of their service, have received everlasting injuries.
For members of the Noosa Surf Club, Sunday evening was such an occasion.
At 6.30pm, members of the club gathered to pay tribute to two such groups – Australia’s Soldiering On and our guests from across the seas, England’s Battling Back.
The purpose of the visit was twofold. The first was to promote their cause and, second, to publically acknowledge those who assist in their recovery.
On the lighter side, it also gives our pommie mates the opportunity to endeavor to kick the backsides of our Diggers on the battlefields of the Noosa Springs golf course.
The battle honours for the victors (each fielding a 10-man team) will be the Clyde Pearce Cup, a trophy which is currently held by the British.
It is interesting to note that the sport of golf, that is so strongly embraced by our visitors, is considered a major part of the recovery program.
The evening was called to order by Donald McKill, a member of Noosa SLSC.
Donald, a serving patrol captain and former member of the British Royal Marines, then introduced both groups of veterans and explained the purpose for the visit.
Club President Ross Fisher then officially welcomed the guests and on behalf of both Senior and Nipper clubs emphasised Noosa’s total support for the project.
Within the ranks of both teams were double amputees.
From England there was Bernie Broard and from Australia Damien Thomlinson. Both spoke briefly of their recovery experiences and in particular acknowledged the fantastic work and dedication of the medical teams and various organisations that work to assist in their recovery.
For Bernie it was a very emotional evening.
Last year during their visit he struck up a friendship with a local double amputee, 10-year-old Rohan McDonald.
Rohan, a member and representative of the Noosa Seahorse Nippers, was welcomed with open arms and all present were made more aware of the importance of such occasions – above all the magnificent work being done by all in the fields of rehabilitation for those who served.
Closing the evening, the compare gave thanks to Tourism Noosa for assisting in accommodating the visitors, the Surf Club for hosting and in particular major sponsor ISPS Handa whose slogan, Inspire Through the Power of Sport, was indeed most appropriate.
Lest We Forget.
