By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA’S Seahorse Nippers program is taking the country by storm and has received national recognition after it was named the Australian Community Program of the Year this week.
The innovative Noosa Surf Life Saving Club’ program allows special-needs children the chance to experience the joys of beach activities including relays, flag races, surfing and more.
The idea was the brainchild of Noosa residents Steve and Nikki Mawby, as well as Lorna Garden, who have grown Seahorse Nippers into a thriving community service with 55 young members and 80 life-saver volunteers.
“The original idea for Seahorse Nippers came from Pambula Beach in NSW and was thanks to Michelle and Peter Bootes – where we first discovered the idea and adapted it into our own,” Mr Mawby said.
Mr Mawby said the Seahorse Nippers community program award had prompted surf clubs from around Australia to make contact.
“We have been overwhelmed with the response from clubs around Australia wanting to know more and wanting information to get their own programs started,” he said.
Mr Mawby said some of the members had rarely seen the beach before starting with Seahorse Nippers and some had not stepped a foot in the sand.
“When some of the kids see the beach and feel the sand for the first time, it’s quite a shock and they can be afraid,” he said.
“But once they get used to it and start getting involved and seeing the other kids, they start to have the time of their lives.”
Redcliffe and North Burleigh are already onboard with their own programs and several expressions of interest have come from clubs across Australia including Coolangatta and Dicky Beach in Queensland, Cronulla, Manly and Collaroy in Sydney, and Lorne in Victoria, and in Western Australia and even Tasmania.
The Seahorse Nippers program started with 11 members in April last year.
The four-week Seahorse Nippers program takes place from April to September at Noosa Main Beach every year.
