Anzac twist to lifesaving

IT IS such an honour to devote today’s column to the great men and women who gave their lives for fellow Australians to live in harmony and freedom.
Along with Australia Day, Anzac Day is a monumental celebration of what is good about being alive in the 21st century.
The plight of helping others has been made a bit clearer to me over the past few months. I have been heavily involved helping set up a sister city relationships with local Coast Surf clubs and the fledgling Vietnam Lifesaving Association.
A long time mate of mine and former Coolum lifesaver Duncan McLean has been living in Vietnam for the past 10 years, married with children.
During this time, Duncan has seen first-hand the terrible increase of deaths from drowning in the Asian country. A total of 15,000 drownings every year, with a breakdown of a person dying every four minutes and plenty of them kids under four.
Duncan has worked closely with the government and, of course, national lifesaving in Australia, to secure support.
Lifesaving Australia has supported financially several hit-and- run missions into the country to help train the locals.
Cudgen veteran David Field is the leader of that group that has achieved some major milestones, over the past two years.
Sadly, the funding like most things, is coming to an end and David needs help.
Fellow Noosa Today columnist and Noosa rep Ron Lane along with representatives from Coolum and Mooloolaba are united in their push to help.
Mr Field has organised a group of 20 who are there right now, celebrating Anzac Day and then helping train locals in the fundamentals of lifesaving.
The passionate lifesaving instructor is calling for all coast clubs to help in at least donating old equipment.
Rescue boards, skis, goggles, tubes, basically anything that can be used in saving lives.
It is hoped to store the items and then after some fund-raising ship the much-needed equipment overseas.
There is also the opportunity to align with a sister city agreement to secure a lasting relationship.
I am aware that Maroochydore has a similar agreement with a club in Japan.
I also noticed that surf clubs aren’t the only locals helping Vietnam, a group dubbed Project Vietnam has been helping in a humanitarian service for the past 25 years.
Based out of Coolum, 15 of its members are currently in Cambodia helping supply and install water tanks in high schools, and once completed water will be supplied to over 1000 children.
Next week the group will trek across to Vietnam where they will help rebuild six existing rooms into treatment and diagnostic venues for disabled children.
I remember my trip to Guam in 2002 for the Pacific Games to commentate on boxing and triathlons.
On my day off, I took a drive around the island and went to the historical war site where you could envisage the morning attack of the US Navy fleet on the Japanese-held island.
Reading the soldier names on the site’s wall of heroes, really made me proud and happy to help where I can.
Until next time.