By RON LANE
THE centenary commemorations of the Gallipoli Landing held at Noosa’s Main Beach on the morning of the 25 April 2015 is something that the people of our community will never forget.
To the president of the Tewantin/Noosa RSL Sub-branch Steve Drake OAM, his committee and support group, you achieved wonders. Dawn service executive producer and parade commander Paul Jenkinson, you did us proud.
Away over town the sub-branch section of the Tewantin cemetery, where so many went to pay their respects after the beach service, Bruce Huntington and his support group have given us a sacred area of pride and dignity.
Also many thanks to the Noosa Heads SLSC, Noosa Shire Council, Kennards Hire and Coast Guard for their support; the choirs and all members of the production team.
But the biggest support of all came from the people of the shire, the elderly, the mums and dads the youth and the kids. By their attendance they not only showed their respect to our service men and women – past and present – but also to our local RSL sub-branch, for as I have had said to me many times: “They did a magnificent job’’.
With the ever-increasing number of service men and women being deployed to trouble spots throughout the world, the importance of the RSL cannot be emphasised enough. Our people, all 12,000 of them, showed their support.
Despite the fact he is only 17 years of age, when you talk to Mick Sloman of the Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club it becomes obvious that his determination to succeed in the tough field of surf sports is rock solid. With competition finished for the 2014/15 season he can look back on what must be one of the most successful individual seasons in the club’s history.
After competing at both the state and national titles he has the incredible record of having won eight medals at the state titles and five at the nationals.
When asked about this he replied with a quite smile: “Yeah, well I guess I have had a pretty good season. I have had a lot of great support with my coaches and family. Right from the start I set myself a goal; I wanted to win a national surf race championship and this I have achieved, so at present I am very happy.’’
When it came to family support Mick said: “I guess you could say that my dad Lloyd was super stoked but Mum was very nervous but also very proud.”
Among his achievements at the nationals were silver medals in the board rescue and surf teams and the bronze medal in the iron man and taplin relay.
Mick does his swim training at the NAC under coach John Rogers. His training program with John includes seven pool sessions a week and for his board he is coached by Max Pettigrove, a senior clubmate at Sunshine Beach.
Mick who was educated at St Teresa’s College, Noosaville, is now apprenticed to a Quantity Surveyor Firm and has four years of university study ahead of him. In September of this year there is the possibility of a trip to Turkey as a member of the Australian University Swim Team to take part in a 5km ocean swim at Istanbul.
“I hope this comes off. It would be a great experience,” he said.
During winter he will be taking part in the Surf Life Saving Pool Rescue Events for Sunshine.
However, his main aim will be to talk to his coaches and family and set new goals for the 2015/16 season – his goal in the seasons beyond is to become a medal winner in the Open Division.
To Mick and his support team, good luck.
