Dragons know how to Party!

Toni Archer

THE COOLOOLA DRAGON Boat Club had its final paddle for 2022 on 18 December and met afterwards at the Tin Can Bay Yacht Club for the end of year function.

On their way along Snapper Creek, the paddlers tried (with varied results) to sing Christmas Carols for those on shore. It is probably fortunate that not too many innocent bystanders were within earshot!

In line with the Club’s tradition, several club members were presented with Coach’s Awards at the party. These are awarded to members of the club who, in the coach’s opinion, have made a significant contribution to the performance and running of the club throughout the year. The award winners for 2022 were:

• Elaine Dimock who was awarded Life Membership of the Club. Elaine has been a long-term member of the club and currently serves as the Club’s Secretary as well as being a super-active paddler (at the age of ?? — we’re not allowed to mention).

• Sandra Binnie (Wally) who was presented with the Club Person’s Award. Rarely called by her given name, Binnie or Wally as she is known amongst other members is one of the ‘shakers and movers’ of the club. She recently qualified as a coach and has also been selected in the team to represent Central Queensland in the National Titles which will be held in April 2023 at Wodonga, Victoria.

• Kerri Southern who was given the Coach’s Encouragement Award. Kerri has just qualified as a steerer (formerly called the sweep). Kerri is also the Club’s Treasurer and is a long-term member of the club.

• Linda Palmer who was presented with the Coach’s Silly Award. No-one can provide a satisfactory answer as to why the Coach would be giving ‘Silly Awards’ but it is possibly a reflection of the zany side of club members. Linda has also recently qualified as a steerer which kind of contradicts the Silly Award.

• Toni Archer who was presented with the Coach’s Award. This is a perpetual award and Toni will hold it until December 2023 when it will be awarded to another club member. Toni has been a member of the club for over two years and is currently responsible for club publicity and for rostering the people needed to staff the Dragon’s Lair Café. Toni’s husband, John, takes care of the minor maintenance of the club’s boats and associated resources.

As always, the end of year bash was well attended by club members and was a great success. It is also safe to say that there were a few drinks taken for ‘medicinal and recovery purposes’ — why else would you drink at a Christmas Party?!

CLUB FISHING EVENTS were a bit sparse over the past month, but Club Members were still active on the fishing front themselves as well as getting involved in other Club activities.

Club Members put on a sausage sizzle supporting one of our sponsors, The Chandlery Bait and Tackle, while at the same time raising funds for the Club. If that wasn’t enough the Club also ran two Bunnings Gympie sausage sizzles, all of which raise some necessary funds for the Club as well as allowing Club Members to do a bit of socialising among themselves and with members of the public.

Mangrove Jack have been on the bite last month and should continue to be active this month so get your live bait and lures out; also watch out for good quality mud crabs – they’ve been active.

On the catching front Club Member Derek Andrews picked up a rather large cod, as the photo shows he could hardly hold the fish up long enough for a photograph.

We held one land-based event at Norman Point where a handful of whiting were caught and a couple

AUSTRALIA, EAST COAST – WADDY POINT (FRASER ISLAND)

Right: First fish ever caught by club visitor Messie. Also, his first fish ever released.

Below: A couple of Junior Members knee deep at Norman Point.

of flathead. A couple of our Junior Members brought along a young friend Messie, and he caught his first ever fish on the day – a small whiting that then went back in the water. Mal Kay won the prize for the mystery fish (and size) with a nice whiting.

On the fishing front the Club now has set up a small sub-committee charged with the responsibility of organising several Club fishing events each month – the new schedule will start in February.

That’s it for another month – Tight Lines.