By RON LANE
THE year 2014 has slipped past and there is no better time for our local clubs, both supporter and life saving, to assess their achievements during the last 12 months.
The movement of our supporter clubs into the world of business, the business plan for the future of these clubs has become a vital part of the administration structure.
“It is these plans that not only enable us to raise the funds necessary to perform our duties as lifesavers, but also provide us with the opportunity to become involved in community projects,” said chairman of the Noosa Supporter Club Ian Young.
“Our way of saying thanks for the support of the public through the years.
“In the good old days when we depended on chook raffles and local dances for our income, the community support was vital.”
An assessment of this year’s performance for the Noosa Supporters Club (the Surf Club) shows that it has made some outstanding contributions at various levels of the community.
Some of the local projects in which the Noosa Club has been heavily involved are: Smile for a Child Program, became a major sponsor of the Sunshine Coast Sports Federation and the Noosa Gift, major financial contributor to the Hasting St. Christmas Tree, and raised necessary funds for the purchase of a Smart Pup for the Jasmine Green family.
Again this year it hosted the Annual Salvation Army Fund Raising Breakfast. Also the surf club has continued with grants that are made available on application, for clubs and organisations within our region.
“For the surf lifesaving club,” president Greg Cowie said, “2014 has indeed been very active with major highlights being the amalgamation of the Peregian membership with Noosa, the continued patrolling of Peregian Beach, Lenore Grice’s admittance into the Australian Surf Life Saving Hall of Fame, the outstanding success of the Seahorse Nippers and winning the Australian Surf Life Saving Community Service Award.
“Also, the performance of iron woman Jordan Mercer on both the international and local level has also been outstanding.”
In the youth department, the school programs covering surf lifesaving has incorporated schools from Yandina to Pomona.
The purpose of this is to teach surf awareness and in some cases the bronze medallion. It has succeeded beyond all expectations.
The amalgamation of the Noosa and Peregian nipper membership has resulted in an incredible 630-plus members on the books.
To cater for this number every Sunday, both Noosa Main Beach and Peregian are used, and a program that is now rated the best in the state, has enabled the organisers to make a success of this massive project.
So well-structured is the program that Ray Fein, president of the SLSQ Junior Advisory Panel stated: “This is the benchmark for Nipper operations in Queensland.”
The formation of the IRB racing teams has also been a success with crewies from Noosa and Sunshine training together.
With the ever increasing call out for roving patrols for both Noosa and Sunshine, experience gained in competition is a vital and necessary part of IRB training.
For the Sunshine Beach Surf Club it has also had a season of major achievements. They have bolstered their patrolling membership by 15 per cent, performed a major upgrade of IRB motors, have replaced their old ATVS (All Terrain Vehicles) with modern Yamaha Vikings and have performed a major upgrade of their First Aid Room.
Another achievement has been the completion of their club outdoor entertainment area. When it comes to club morale this is something of the upmost importance, for it gives the patrol members the opportunity to bond together; a most important factor in any rescue organisation.
Amongst their many other achievements was the naming of Scott Summers as Sunshine Coast Branch Club Captain of the Year, and the Under 17s Patrol Competition Teams winning the gold medal at the branch, state and national titles.
It is the first time in Australian lifesaving that a team such as this has achieved these results.
“The nipper club,” said Nipper president David Gleeson, “this season has really been consolidated. For the first time ever 200 plus membership has been achieved, and training for students during school holidays continues to grow. This month, they will continue with the infamous Hell Week for Nippers; a week which will see the members on a training program covering all aspects of sport from lifesaving through to triathlons. Nonstop, sun-up till dark.”
Regarding the Supporter Club, club President Craig Law said: “This year we were the recipent of Clubs Queensland Small Club of the Year Award and the extension and upgrade of the front deck has been a major factor in improving our fundraising ability. In the community our patrol members have continued to provide water safety for the Noosa Triathlon the Eyeliner swim and other events.”
For our two clubs 2014 has indeed been an outstanding year.
However their major achievement is without a doubt that no lives have been lost between the flags on Noosa, Sunshine or Peregian Beaches while lifesavers on patrol.
“That, is what it’s all about.”
