ISOBEL COLEMAN
When they lined up next to the opposition on Scarborough Beach, WA, for the Aussies, Sunshine youngsters Thomas Emanuel and Zac Barwicki were determined to win.
A strong U15 Board Rescue team from Sunshine Beach Surf Club, they knew they worked well together and had won other competitions, but this was the big one – the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. But they went for it and, knocking out two tough NSW teams, they brought the gold medal home for Queensland. Tom’s mum Melissa told Noosa Today that the experience of watching them win was incredible. “It was unbelievable! We were so thrilled for them. We knew they were good but the competition was really tough and we couldn’t imagine they would win the gold,” she said. “They were pumped and really determined and they work really well together.” Sunshine Beach Surf Club manager Tim Johnson described the win as an “awesome achievement” for the club. The boys’ win made it a double for the club, with the U17 Patrol Competition team of Jarrad Greentree, Suzannah Henshaw, Brock Redwood and Edward Tilleard also winning gold at the Aussies.
