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Our History

1992/93

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

The Committee spent a lot of time this year looking to the future to assess current needs and future directions for the club's growth. The building committee plans for a staged development were ready for council, the financial situation was very strong with the building fund in credit $60,000. Stage 1 of the building plan proposed for the following year included a new gymnasium storage room, large enough to cope with the inclusion of a junior club, kitchen renovations and a base for doubling the size of our social areas.

Definitely not a highlight of the year was an accident involving one of our younger active members Heath Walmsley, who came off second best to a falling beach patrol tower.

Heath's accelerating recovery was phenomenal - from lying on his back in hospital, with clamps on his head, not being able to move - to walking unaided up to the presentation dias to receive a trophy for Cadet Champion at the annual dinner was truly inspirational.

COMPUTERISATION

As a result of our growing membership, it became necessary to computerize our records. Our Registrar, Sarah Thomas, took up the challenge and within a few weeks we were able to check memberships at the door within seconds.

The Sunday Surf Swims remain popular and places are hotly contested by the life savers.

The Friday night Monster Raffles introduced in this season naturally created a lot of interest (who wouldn't want to win a monster?), with financial benefit and together with the lucky membership draws, made for an enjoyable evening.

The club continued to 'fly the flag' at carnivals all over the country, with representatives from board and ski, boaties and masters getting plenty of mentions.

1993/94

INAUGURAL YEAR - JUNIOR ACTIVITIES

The topic of Nippers at Sunshine Beach SLSC was openly discussed at several Management Committee Meetings throughout 1991 and 1992. Frequently asked questions included:

- Are surf conditions at Sunshine Beach too rough for Nippers?
- Do we have any members within our own ranks with past Nipper experience?
- Do we have any parents to assist?

Tony Frost's kids were Nippers in the '70s, Mike and Hilary Harding's son was a Peregian Nipper and Wayne Wren had four of his own children ready to join. Our 13th year and the club continue to expand in many ways, but perhaps the most memorable step forward was the inaugural year of Junior Activities.

13th Annual Dinner - Villa Noosa

At the Club's 13th Annual Dinner and Presentation Night on the 21st May 1994, Wendy Fahey-White presented the Patrick Fahey Memorial Trophy after making a wonderful inspirational speech. This speech is published in its entirety, as it should rightfully be recorded as one of this Club's finest moments.

"Good evening everybody. Before I present this trophy, which is for the Best First Year Life Saver, I would like to give you some background on how the trophy came about. Mot of you already know the origin of the trophies, but for all the new members I think it is nice to know the importance of receiving them.

"Back in 1985 I joined the surf club together with my late husband Patrick, who is Bill Fahey's brother. We had moved up from Sydney and joined as social members.

"Because of the warm atmosphere and friendliness of the club members, it prompted Patrick to do his Bronze Medallion and become active.

"I was very pregnant with Jenna at the time, and he started training under the guidance of my (now) darling husband Robby, who I am very proud to be married to, and Puck. Yes Puck! Believe it or not, he did get out there amongst it, back then.

"Patrick received his Bronze Medallion in the October when Jenna was born, and he was very fit and healthy at the time. In December of 1985, Patrick developed pneumonia which further developed into sarcoma of the lung, a very aggressive form of cancer. His condition was terminal and he died in July 1986.

"He didn't get a chance to prove himself as a lifesaver, but in the short time he was associated with the club, he loved it. I Must also add that his patrol at that time included Mike Harding, John Kelly, Dave Nicholson and Dave Thomas.

"The Club donated the trophy of Best First Year Life Saver, in Patrick's memory. The gymnasium is also named after Patrick. The original gym equipment, the bench press, weight, and sit up board were donated to the club by Patrick when he knew he was dying.

"For such a small group of people, many of us have felt tragedy in our lives. Some of us recently, and being such a close knit group of friends, we all feel the loss in some way. I don't want to end on a depressing note and I didn't intend for this speech to be depressing, but I would like to tell all the club members now how honoured and how grateful I am to be able to present this trophy and to know that every year, we can all remember that Patrick was here and part of our lives.

"It has taken me eight years to be able to talk openly like this and I want the families out there who are feeling the sorrow of their loss, to know that time really does heal and that the surf club helps by honouring that person at the Annual Dinner. So tonight, I would like to present this special trophy to a person who indeed deserves it - Steve Kinny."

Wendy Fahey-White

MAJOR SPONSOR DONATES BUS

Noosa Junction Plaza donated a new surfboard, trailer and a 20 seater bus, which spurred our boaties along.

The Reserves and A Grade did well in the Sizzler Series, then the Reserves and 39-44s picked up Gold in the Branch Titles. The 39-44s followed this up by collecting Silver in the State Titles at Maroochydore.

This season also saw the Masters section of the club experience its best competition results in our history so far.

We were represented in the Masters carnivals at Maroochydore (State Championships), Palm Beach (Gold Coast), Mooloolaba (Branch Championships), and Swansea Belmont (Australian Championships).

In the first aid department marine stingers (blue bottles) continued to be an annual problem during midsummer, but again we were happy to report no loss of life between the flags.

APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR

For the first time, the Management Committee included on the agenda the possibility of appointing an Administrator to oversee the huge task of running both the Surf Club and the Supporters Association, which were becoming very successful financially.

This was finally approved in September 1994, with Len Giddings taking on the role, to take some of the pressure off the executive.

FIRST SEA EAGLE NEWSLETTER

The Supporters Club newsletter was first published in July 1993 - and was sent to all members on a quarterly basis to keep them informed of happenings around the club.

In November 1993 the first enquiries were made of council and the Lands Department regarding the introduction of gaming machines into the club.

With the continued growth of the club during 1994/95 and its many departments, the appointment of a fulltime Administrator was more than warranted. The results showed in this year's Auditors report, totally justifying the appointment. The increase alone in Supporters Club bar takings $70,000 and the trading surplus $20,000. There was also a great increase in membership revenue, from $9,000 to $16,000, in part due to the vigilance of door stewards and computerized records.

FIRST LIFE MEMBERS

Another milestone in the history of the club was the appointments of former Presidents, Vic Guest and Geoff Potter as our first Life Members, at the 1994/95 Annual Dinner and Presentation Night. Members may be awarded this honour after outstanding services to their club and surf life saving for more than 10 consecutive years.

GAMING MACHINES

Our first application to Noosa Council to negotiate a lease, allowing us to install some gaming machines, was submitted in this year. When approval was received after months of negotiation, and the planned renovations complete, the first 'pokies' were to be installed.

The Committee agreed that the club was family orientated and should not be seen to be encouraging this form of gambling - however the spiralling costs of supplying life saving equipment and training to the Surf Club necessitated some supplementary income.

The profit from the gaming machines would be directly applied to the costs of the beach activities, along with the $50,000, donated by the Supporters Association this season.

JUNIOR ACTIVITIES GROWS

The second season of Junior Activities (Nippers) attracted a strong membership of some 58 children, with 41 families taking part. On top of this there was a waiting list of about 20 children. More...

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