Hello everyone, welcome to the April edition of our paddle club newsletter! We’re excited to share updates and important information with you. Whether you are on the Sunshine Coast, elsewhere in Australia or overseas on holidays, we hope this newsletter finds you well. This newsletter contains important information about boat storage and membership fees, so please read to the end!
Boats Re-arranged
Some of you will have been advised that your boat storage place will change. This task was completed today. All long skis (5.5m and above) have been moved into the roadside section, front and back racks. We have attempted to put your name on rack either above or below your craft. Some skis could not be identified and I will be in contact with the members affected by these changes.
K1s stored in the centre section were reversed so that the rudder now faces the back door of the club house. We ask that when accessing your boat from the centre section, please remove and replace from the rear of the club house. This will reduce the risk of hazards in the central area of the club house.
The back roller door opens and closes electronically via a big round button on the wall, near the paddle bucket.
Please note: no long craft (ie over 5.5m) will be stored in the central area.
Paddle Australia Marathon Championships
A small contingent from our club has travelled to Encounter Lakes, South Australia for the marathon championship from 5 – 8 April. Nicky Donaldson, Steve Mclay, Lachlan Kent and Bill McGuinn will be competing in a variety of single and team events. They have trained hard and are well prepared. Best wishes for your racing. We know you’ll do you best.
Australian Olympic Sprint Kayak Team
It is with great excitement and a feeling of privilege that we acknowledge three of our club members, Alexandra Clarke, Alyce Wood and Aly Bull have been selected in to represent Australia at the Paris Olympics this year.
Change to Training Times – Winter Schedule
Please remember that the 6:30am group now starts at 7am due to the reduced daylight hours. The hardy 5:30am group will continue at that time with the addition of bike lights and other accessories to ensure their safety in the dark mornings.
April Time Trial
We will start the new time trial format from 1 July so the April time trial will remain in the old format. It’s on this Sunday. Be at the club to register for the short course by 6:45am or to start the long course at 6:30am.
HiJinks on Eudlo
Our race was a success with approximately $1,000 raised for the club. There were 66 competitors. Thanks to volunteers for their efforts in making the day a success. In particular, I’d like to thank John Smallwood for taking the lead on organising this well run event.
Grant Season
There are a plethora of grants on the go at the moment. Our submission to Uber Reserve Heroes had to be one minute long in video format. It’s on our face book page if you want to check it out.
Paddle Australia (PA) Membership Fee Advice – Information from PA
“PA component of membership fees will be increasing, effective 1 June 2024 when renewals open. The PA membership fees for the 2024/25 paddling season for club members will be as follows:
Senior – increasing $2.00 from $45.00 to $47.00
Junior – increasing $1.00 from $22.50 to $23.50
The fee increases represent CPI figures from 2023/24 year to date and are applied to enable PA to continue to meet the rising cost of providing services to the paddling community, as provisioned in the PA Membership Fee Review Policy.
Each State Paddle Association will be applying its’ own strategy to reviewing their state membership fees for the 2024/25 paddling season and will communicate directly with you regarding this.
Member and club benefits
As a member of a Paddle Club, your members become part of a united paddling community, supported by your State Paddle Association and Paddle Australia. There is so much to love about paddling, and many great benefits of paddling like being on the water, in nature, fitness, fun and social connection are all increased when they paddle with your Club!
Being a Club member also brings other benefits that your members might not notice… until they are needed! They are covered by 24/7 worldwide personal accident and public liability insurances and protections under the National Integrity Framework. They are also able to enter events, development pathways, have access to qualified coaches and the Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme, as well as benefit from advocacy for our waterways and water quality. To find out more about the benefits of membership, watch this video.
And being part of your Club means your members contribute to, and benefit from, the many varied benefits your Club receives as a Club affiliated to Paddle Australia and your State Paddle Association. Again, these things often go unnoticed, but your Club wouldn’t be a Club without them! Have a quick read here to remind yourself of the benefits that come from being an affiliated Club.
Optional insurances through the Paddle Australia Insurance Program
V Insurance, Paddle Australia’s insurance broker, is able to assist in providing quotes for the following insurances:
- Property
- Contents
- Paddle Craft and Paddle Equipment (under the Marine Hull Policy)
- Trailers and Motor Vehicles
For more information or for an obligation free quote, please contact V Insurance on 02 8599 8660 or sports@vinsurancegroup.com And a reminder that you as individuals, along with all financial members of your club, are able to access the Paddle Protect policy for individually owned paddle craft and equipment. Click here for further information. If you have any questions for Paddle Australia, please contact us on info@paddle.org.au ”
Club Key Deposits Increasing
The deposit required for a club key will increase to $35 from 1 July.
Period Products and Disposal
A variety of period products are now available in the club house toilet. A new disposal system has also been set up for your comfort and convenience.
Stay Connected
Your ideas, concerns, and suggestions are invaluable to us. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime via phone, email, or our Facebook page. We welcome your stories and contributions to our community.
Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our club. Together, we’ll continue to thrive and succeed.
Warm regards, Delia West, President
Doug Brennan, Treasurer
Paul Shipton, Secretary
Nicky Donaldson, Head Coach
General Committee Members: Lach Kent, Tim Kreis (on leave), Justin Wright, Deb Wright
Sponsors
Our club has some ongoing sponsors that provide services to the club. Please consider using these companies should you need their services.
| Sunshine Coast 4WD Centre | Office Works Maroochydore | Accurate Pest Management |
| Westaway Electrical |
The 2023 Maroochy River Paddle Sponsors were:
| Perren & Penny, Civil & Plumbing Contractors | Paddles (formerly the Paddle Shop), Warana | Alexandra Headland SLSC |
| North Coast Frozen Foods | Noosa Paddle Shop | Future Plus Environmental |
| Viking Trucks | Carruthers Contracting | More Smiles Dental Practice |
| Gara Paddles | Buderim Guardian Pharmacy | Clint Robinson Paddling Clinics |
| Pure Paddling | Caloundra Skin Cancer Centre | Heads in the Cloud Salon |
We are also grateful to be the recipient of grants from the following local, state and federal governments:
| Sunshine Coast Council | Qld Government, Dept of Sport & Rec | Australian Government, Dept of Business & Industry |