Noosa Today - 23rd April 2021

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Friday, 23 April, 2021

AGENCY OF THE YEAR NOOSA HEADS NOOSAVILLE • SUNSHINE BEACH 12491813-SN17-21

Weddings making a comeback

This river committee might finally work

Noosa and surrounds to commemorate Anzac Day

32-page liftout Property Guide

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PAGES 14-19

INSIDE

PR OP ER TY

Our oarsome bid By Jim Fagan Noosa coastal rowers want to stage their sport as an Olympic Games event on Laguna Bay in 2032. They launched their bid on Sunday at the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club and one enthusiastic oarsman dipping the oars and trying the sport for the first time was Deputy Mayor and supporter Frank Wilkie. Organiser Peter Watson admits the bid is “ambitious” as coastal rowing still has to be recognised by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for inclusion in the Olympics and Queensland still has to get the nod as world host for the 2032 Games. He has no doubt, however, that it will happen. Peter is secretary of the Coastal Rowing Association and Touring Australia and told Noosa Today the IOC (International Olympic Committee has already flagged that coastal rowing will be included in the Los Angeles Games in 2028. “This means it will be in the 2032 Games. “Also, we’ll know in July if Queensland has the Olympics. So far, everything I’ve heard is positive.” Coastal rowing, as the name suggests, is rowing at sea with boats a bit more sturdy than river racing shells. It has been popular in Europe for more than 15 years but it is in its infancy in Australia. “It’s an exciting sport,” said Peter. “Rowing Australia is now taking a real interest and the sport is starting to expand. “We’re hoping the inaugural Australia Coastal Rowing Championships will be held here in August and this will lay the groundwork for an Olympics event in Laguna Bay. “We’ve said we want the championships here. Noosa has all the natural set up needed. We have a north-east facing beach and the surf isn’t a big surf. It’s really just a matter of laying buoys. “We have easy access to the airport and we can accommodate the athletes who want to come here. “If the championships are awarded to Rowing Queensland by Rowing Australia we anticipate rowers from all over Australia will participate in the event.” Peter said: “Setting our sights for the Olympics is exciting for us. We have a plan to promote the sport in schools as an Olympic sport because the schoolkids of today will be the athletes of tomorrow. By 2032 they will be at their prime.” MAYOR, DEPUTY SUPPORT “IN PRINCIPLE” Mayor Clare Stewart and Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie have given their “in principle” support to the quest to bring coastal rowing to Laguna Bay as a completely new Olympic event. Continued page 4

WWII Women’s Australian Auxiliary Airforce Centenarian Billie Hayes.

WWII Centenarian set to lead march A World War II Women’s Australian Auxiliary Airforce (WAAAF) Centenarian is set to share the lead of the Cooroy Anzac Day March with Cooroy-Pomona RSL Sub Branch president Patricia Geelan. Wilma (Billie) Ayles (nee Galloway) had her 100th birthday on the 21st of March this

year and if all goes well, she will be able to attend. Billie joined the WAAAF on the 26 June 1942 as an Aircraftwoman Wireless Operator and received and transmitted communications by morse code.

Based in Townsville and then Bowen, Billie received communications from the war zones in Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Horne Island and Rabaul, and then forwarded them to either Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.

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