WELL it’s over for another year. The annual training event for our 13/14-year-old Sunshine Coast lifesavers, known as Camp Commando is over and the feedback is very positive.
Organised and run as a joint venture by Surf Life Saving and Australian Defence Force it was attended by clubs from Rainbow Beach to Redcliffe with a representation of four to five members per club, the future of our organisation is definitely being addressed.
Among those in attendance were 45 team leaders whose job was not only to assist in running the day’s events, but also take the opportunity to reassess their own capabilities in the area of leadership.
One such young man was 16-year-old Archie Glassock from Noosa.
A veteran of several previous camps Archie said, “It was a great experience for the youth as it taught them to embrace lifesaving as a whole and most important to look at all avenues of their work as life savers. It also gave us the chance to reassess our capabilities as mentors and leaders.”
Going from 6am till 10pm, it was a long day. One of the highlights was the chance for our youth to compare the difference between some training methods used by the ADF and us, for there are many similarities in problems that can confront both groups.
It has definitely been a great season for our local iron women Jordan Mercer and Kirsty Higginson. Coached by Darren Mercer, himself an Australian Iron Man legend, these young competitors are what competition is all about.
On Saturday at North Cronulla Beach, Sydney, Round 6 of the Kellogg’s Nutri Grain Iron Woman saw Kirsty finish in first place and Jordan second; an incredible result for the girls and the coach.
On the Sunday, following the results of the races, the overall top three places for the series were announced. In first place was Jordan Mercer of Noosa and second was good friend and club mate Kirsty Higginson, third was Brodie Moir.
Not only was this result unique for a club, but it is the first time in the history of this event that a father and daughter have won the Nutri Grain Series.
Another good result for Noosa was Jack Moyes finishing 10th in the men’s series. For this young man who is virtually a Nutri Grain novice, his performance was also outstanding. And what does all this say for Noosa Head Coach Darren Mercer? Incredible!
Now four days later the cheering has stopped, the interviews are over and many thousands of words have been written. To me, a major component in their success has been something that despite getting little or no attention from various branches of the media has been of the utmost importance. And that is the Mercer and Higginson families.
Both families are similar in their attitude; quiet, totally supportive and united. They also have the ability to keep both feet on the ground and above all, possess the character to take the good with the bad and with the utmost dignity.
On the edge of our community in Cudgerie Estate, there is a family whose domain is amateur boxing. Despite the two sports being poles apart the attitude and end results for this family is similar. The family name is Cameron-Hands and their two sons Sam, 16 and Ben, 14, despite their youth, has already won several Australian championships.
I have had the privilege of meeting all three families and have no doubt that the success of their children is, in no small way, due to the character of these people. Our respect, gratitude and congratulations to all concerned.
