DSA Australia SunShine Coast

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THANKS SUNSHINE COAST BRANCH

Today 3.10.09 was the very first day my 13 year old son went surfing . What a fabulous day! What fabulous people! The volunteers made each & every disabled surfer feel very special & valued My son Jayden had a ball -his smile looked like a split watermelon . It was a very special day to both he & I & I would like to thank all concerned for the time & effort that was put into the day ,it made me realize that Jayden & I are not alone but part of a very caring community. I know there is one little boy who went straight to sleep tonight with no complaints as he was so tired after such a great day . Once again thanks & we will see you all again in November

Best Regards

Lesley

I'm writing this email on behalf of my son Mac who is 8 years old and has Cerebral Palsy. On Saturday we had one of the most wonderful experiences in Mac's life to date. I cannot believe the dedication of the people running the Sunshine Coast branch of your organization.

This was Macs first time surfing, and he has not stopped vocalizing about it every since. The volunteers made him feel so safe and he wants to start counting down the sleeps till October when next he can go surfing. Show and tell this week is very exciting showing off the medal, trophy and photos (which we had to hurried develop today).

I have never met such a genuine bunch of people.

My Mum and Dad had the pleasure of watching their grandson experience something they never thought possible.

You all deserve so much.

Regards

Greg & Tammy & Mac & Charlie

Press release:

The Fraser Island Challenge Stand Up for The Disabled

Last year 2 Noosa watermen, Chris de Aboitiz and Woogie Te Manu Marsh made an attempt to be the first paddlers to circumnavigate Fraser Island on stand up paddle boards. The aim of the mission was to raise awareness and funds for the Disabled Surfers Association. Although they successfully raised over $5000 for the DSA they were unable to complete the challenge within the designated 7 day time frame. After paddling close to 270km the boys were forced to pull out due to bad weather conditions with howling north easterly headwinds forcing the paddlers out into the shipping lanes.

Chris and Woogie want to take on mother nature once again and battle it out to set the world record as the first to circumnavigate Fraser Island on stand up paddle boards. Although last years effort did get them off to a good start, the DSA are still in much need of new equipment to set up a Sunshine Coast branch.

"It's a great charity and an awesome opportunity for individuals and businesses to get behind the paddlers show their support and allow these guys to share the stoke and joy of surfing." Says Chris.

The exposure and press opportunities for the sponsors are huge as well as the positive association of supporting this worthy charity.

"We learned a great deal from last years attempt and I'm confident the boys would make it around this year. Then next year we hope to open the event up to the public and accommodate a family fun weekend paddle up the Great Sandy Straight.

The main sponsor of the Fraser Island Challenge will have first refusal on the naming rights to this family event. With this second attempt we now have the opportunity to raise even more exposure and funds for a needy charity." Scott Cairns, event organiser.

For further info and to contact the event organisers about sponsorship, call 5449-7688 or e-mail to info@pangaproductions.com.au

"Sunshine Coast"

Local Radio Station Zinc 96.1

Interview with a 70 year old Lady surfer with MS

8/04/2008

Thanks guys for yet another fantastic day of surfing on Saturday !!

Needless to say Lucy had her usual wonderful time and Maddy, as a volunteer, says " Mum I had the best time " - it is so great to see her wanting to be so involved as well, not just with her sister but all the participants. She was bubbling over with enthusiasm about who she had helped and how great it was.

It is lovely for us to feel such a part of the group and to be so welcomed when we arrive as well as renewing friendships and making new friends.
Wasn't Elsa amazing ? She was so stoked to have a go and nearly fell off her scooter when she won Surfer of the Day !!

Please put Lucy's name down for the two events at the end of the year and pass on our thanks to the team leaders and marshalls etc who all did an amazing job.
Who knows - we might get Lucy standing up one day!!

Noosa 08

The sun has set on the 07/08 season for the Sunny Coast branch, our first season. What a year it has been, two big events, a train the helper and a demo for the Festival of Surfing, phew. Saturday 5th April saw us end the season with a gorgeous day at Noosa main beach. Huey was most kind to the crew and delivered some clean smokin two foot sets and plenty of sunshine for the day. With 35 participants booked in for the day (final count was 49) it was primed to be a big one. With a bit of a minor hiccup in the morning, hey we didn't know they were getting married where we set up the barbie! The day looked set for some good vibes and smokn rides .With well over 100 volunteers and six teams in the water it was almost poetry in motion ,DSA style .With our new Maroon marquees in place on the beach, a most professional outfit we did look. The day was a real mixed bag of participants but one deserves a special mention our "Surfer of the Day" trophy winner, 70 year old Elsa with M/S and being wheelchair bound she was an inspiration to every one on the beach. I would like to thank all our volunteers for their help and support throughout the year ,Christian Surfers (bbq cooks, ala tops) All our committee members for their enthusiasm and input throughout the season, first class gang .The Festival of Surfing ,Tropic Surf ,USM events and Global Surf industries for inviting us to be part of the festival and the generous donations , cheers crew ! Let's keep the momentum going again next season and all come back for another blast of DSA magic.

See ya out the back Gav.

Sunshine Coast DSA First Event

Dec 2007

''Ballinger Beach ''

There is something special going on around the beaches of Oz and a little bit of that magic has found its way to the Sunshine Coast .The Disabled Surfers Association of Australia. Saturday December 1st was the first event held by the Sunshine Coast branch of the DSA and what an incredible day it was.
Conditions were prime for our first dig, light nor easterly and a screaming two foot swell, gold. Plenty of crew were on board early setting us up for the day with the Gold Coast DSA kindly helping us out with their gear and experienced hands. Cheers Craig. Walking down the dunes at Currimundi was the most awesome sight. About 250 people surrounding the DSA tent. With 98 volunteers and 34 participants, we couldn't have asked for a better turn out! The atmosphere was incredible! Everyone was hyped and hearing the squeals of delight from the participants brought a huge smile to everyone's face. We have about 250 photos from the day and there isn't one snap where everyone isn't smiling and having an absolute blast! All of the carer's and parents that attended were full of praise for everyone involved with the DSA and the most common question asked was " When is the next event?" April 5th (tbc). We have been invited to the Noosa Festival of Surfing next year and will be having a demonstration and display booth, for the week, to show the punters what the DSA is about. The festival is now a global event, giving Disabled Surfing the opportunity to grow in other countries, putting ''Smiles on Dials '' .
We would like to thank Chris & Woogie for there attempt to SUP around Frazer Island , next year for sure guys ,raising four thousand five hundred dollars for the DSASC. John Madill Toyota for sponsoring the paddle, Global Surf Industries, Noosa Mal club, Noosa Trophies, UMS Events, Currimundi Special School, The Board meeting , the ice cream man, and all the other associated scallywags. Thanks again to all the crew that have rolled out to get the branch up, your help and support is much appreciated, invaluable and most welcome.
See ya out the back
Gav .

'' TRAIN THE HELPER DAY ''

27th October 2007

BALLINGER BEACH, CURRIMUNDI

The Sunshine Coast Train the Helper day was an excellent turnout with 80 volunteers, 3/4 of those were surfers and about 100 on the beach we had a solid crew . Every one was hyped to learn how to safely take disabled crew surfing , and watching the stoke on the faces of the crew in the water ,you could feel something special was brewing .A lovely sunny day with a light of onshore , classic stuff huey .Jim Bradley and the Goldy crew bought there gear up and steered us in the right direction for the day ,cheers guys. Steve Pickering, Kev McDiarmid kindly came surfing with us. thanks guys. We have a great deal of interest in the DSA on the Sunny Coast and look set for a prosperous future .A big thanks must go out to the Currimundi Special School for the use of their facilities and their support .We have set down the 1st December for our first event and judging by our ''train the helper'' day look forward to bigger and better things. To all those who turned out, thanks heaps, and don't forget to keep an eye out for future happenings and events on our web page .
See ya out the back.
Gav .

Sunshine Coast News

Heaven or hell?

23.11.2007
By Peter Gardiner -

http://www.noosanews.com.au

Even the faintest early morning breeze off Fraser Island will bring to the faces of Chris de Aboitiz and Eugene "Woogie" Te Manu Marsh portents of either heaven or hell.

These are modern day watermen whose ocean stand-up paddle adventure around the world's largest sand mass is bound to bring moments of personal purgatory.

The two stand-up pioneers have prepared for the circumnavigation with practice paddles between Noosa and Coolum, but nothing can prepare them for the reality of six days of digging in, stroke after stroke.

For this first ever Fraser Island Stand-Up Challenge, which will raise funds for the Disabled Surfers Association of Australia, Chris and Woogie are hoping to go with the flow as much as possible.

Starting at Inskip Point before dawn on Monday morning, the two will head up the leeward side of the island before rounding Sandy Cape and travelling down the Easter Ocean side of the island.
Their aim is to average 50km a day over the daunting 300km or so of water.

If the elements are kind they will be driven along by a north-easterly that usually prevails at this time of year.

A south-easter coming into their face would be a brutal thing.

Chris, the former tandem world surfing champion who started up Noosa Longboards back in the 1990s, puts the two extremes like this: "One way is like you are skating along the other is like running into a brick wall." Chris said even a breeze coming in over a left or right shoulder can make the reality out there a lumpy, energy-sapping obstacle course.

And while they are hoping for at the very least benign conditions, Chris said they were going on the marathon paddle for the hell of it.

"I had the idea about a year ago - I wanted a real challenge."

So the two started planning their self-proclaimed boys' own adventure and now the Noosa Festival of Surfing and the DSA Australia have come on board.

Chris said that when he and Woogie saw what an outstanding opportunity the new Sunshine Coast branch of the DSA was bringing to the Coast they wanted to make their pain the group's gain.

"Woogie and I figured if we were going to bust a gut doing this, wouldn't it be great to do it for people who are surfers in spirit but whose disabilities limit their surfing capabilities." All funds raised will help kick disabled surfing off on the Coast.

More than 80 Coast people have already signed on as volunteers to get the disabled riding waves, but a lot more special equipment, like soft surfboards and aquatic wheelchairs, is needed.

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