Media and Community
Tasmania Camp
February 2024
Wow, what an expedition! We made our way by car, caravan and trailer from the Sunny Coast all the way to Geelong to catch the Spirit of Tasmania ferry across to Devonport - and what a sight to was to see so many kayaks on cars travelling down the east coast of Australia. Having our own kayaks rather than hiring kayaks there gave us the independence to seek out the best spots to paddle - from Southport, to Bruny Island, the Tasman Peninsular with the highest coastal cliffs in the world, along the East Cost to Binalong Bay and beyond. Stay tuned for a full report shortly but here’s some video of our epic adventure.
Yakfest
Sunshine Coast boaties around the new Bribie Bar on Thursday October 19 should be on the look out for capsized paddlers as Caloundra Coast Guard and the Sun Coast Seniors Recreational Kayak Club (SSRKC) conduct a mock mass rescue.
Between 20 and 30 kayakers and three fully crewed Coast Guard will be using the exercise to hone their emergency response procedures.
Under the mock rescue scenario, around half of the kayaking fleet will (deliberately) capsize as they approach the bar – triggering the emergency response which will involve some kayakers performing self rescues, assisted rescues and the remainder will be picked up by Coast Guard vessels.
The exercise will give valuable experience to paddle coordinators, who will be responsible for liasing with fellow paddlers and the Coast Guard to effect a successful rescue operation.
Coast Guard commander Roger Pearce says it’ll be valuable training for his crews.
“Most of our work involves coming to the assistance of boaties and occasionally a lone paddler, but very rarely do we have to contend with having many people in the water using craft that we don’t usually recover.
“More importantly, it reaches out to a section of the boating community, who traditionally pride themselves of managing rescues without outside assistance. We want them to know it’s ok to ask for help, and if there is a crisis, the earlier they ask for help the better.”
It is part of the kayak club’s Yakfest – a three day celebration of the SSRKC’s 30th anniversary year.
Club president Ken Jeffreys said Yakfest included a barbecue with the Coast Guard after the mock rescue, training in the use of a new council funded defibrillator, a whale watching kayak on Friday and a lunch with a LifeFlight Australia Aircrew Officer, whose father George who is in his 80s and still paddles with the club.
“We are also reaching out to the over 50s community, who are seeking an active, healthy and interesting hobby.
“We will be hosting a Come Try Day on Saturday October 21 from 7.30am at Ayliffe Park in Golden Beach.
“We will provide all the gear – the boats, the safety equipment and the tuition – and anyone over 50 can come along and give it a go.”
Aspiring paddlers should send an email to support@ssrkc.org.au to make an advance booking, or simply turn up on the day and have a chat about who we are and whether it’s a club for you.
Contacts:
Coast Guard Commander Roger Pearce: 0418298744
Sun Coast Seniors Recreational Kayak Club President Ken Jeffreys: 0429636859
30th Anniversary Report by Paul Watt
SSRKC 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SUMMARY OF EVENTS / WORK DONE / OUTCOMES ETC
By Paul Watt on 26 Nov 2023 , for the November 2023 Committee meeting at Crummunda Park.
It all started with a few lovely memorable Sundays spent with Terri Stannard , our longest continual member , in her patio garden in late 2022 , discussing the history of our Club , with so much detail contained in Terri’s diaries .
Terri + her family graciously lent me a copy of Terri’s “My Life” memoir written by her 4 years prior.
Then I was given the archive boxes by Jim Blyth , our second longest continual serving member, along with other records of membership etc from his computer.
With all this info , and Terri’s contact list , I was able to arrange for a few of us to join a few very early members at their regular coffee mornings at Emjays at Bokarina. These were truly entertaining, lively , with a few clashes of particular memories and details , and lots of laughter.
Marion and Jeff Head have done a wonderful job transferring images and data onto digital records.
Next I was able to inform the participants of the 2023 AGM of some of our plans we hoped to put in place to make our 30th Anniversary Year memorable , enjoyable and very productive for our Club.
On 27 th January Terri was interviewed live at Crummunda Park by ABC Sunshine Coast Radio’s Tessa Mapstone.
On 25 th March , Terri’s 95 th birthday , also at Crummunda Park , we held a joint celebration with Terri’s extended family , and special guest Local Councillor Terry Landsberg. He had used a grant to supply us with a wonderful marquee showing our new logo , and a large number of new Club stickers .
Heather Quinn also designed and sewed a 30th Anniversary logo onto a shirt and hat for me to wear at these functions .
On 6 April we held a re-enactment of the first time people paddled canoes together as a group , that was to become our Club. This had been in 1993 at “Dunethin Lake , with vessels on loan from the Dunethin Scout Group . The Senior Scout member who doled out the gear that day , had also done it on the previous occasion .
Whilst it seems the first paddle was quite a serious affair , this time was anything but … with water canon and games on the water , in those very same boats from 30 years ago.
ABC Radio’s Tessa also was on hand to again interview Terri.
The Scouts volunteers joined us for lunch in their grounds amid much banter and laughter.
Next event was Dean’s fun day at Auliffe Park , also with on water games and skill tests , with BBQ after.
Terri and her daughter were invited by SBS TV to take part in a special on ageing , and they stole the show , with SSRKC mentioned constantly with great pride and enthusiasm.
Sadly on 27 July we held a memorial paddle at Cotton Tree for Terry F , who had lost his long battle with kidney and associated health issues . Terri attended and was very moved by the occasion.
On the 19 th October , as part of Yakfest , we held a mock rescue day with the Caloundra Coast Guard, who provided a great 2 course feast - they called it a sausage sizzle! As always Terri was in the thick of things , paddling unassisted out to the sandbar, from where she watched with great interest .
Ch 7 TV Sunshine Coast was on hand to send out footage and interviews to the local news bulletin that night.
During Yakfest , Terri also joined several of us for a sunset cruise on the Pumicestone Passage with Ken at the helm . I suggested this is surely the best way to see the waterways , but was shot down quickly with her opinion that it was always better in a kayak.
So in summary , I believe the year has been very successful with the following outcomes:
Increased awareness, recognition and appreciation of the Club’s history by members.
A digital copy of all archive material.
A very close bond has been formed with Terri”s family , with mutual admiration in spades.
Meeting and rekindling members’ friendships formed over the decades.
A great media presence to the wider community , including the Coast Guard and the Council.
Many new members , and many more in the wings.
It has been an honour and privilege to have been involved in this year’s celebrations , and I wholeheartedly thank everyone who helped make t possible .
Cheers and Beers for 30 Years.
Paul Watt
