Nippers celebrate end of season

by Nerissa Legge

We’ve all survived yet another exciting season filled with fun games, activities, beach and surf safety awareness, new skills and fitness.

We’ve had almost 80 Nippers registered, and I’m sure that each one has benefited from the program through better safety awareness, surf skills, rescue techniques, First Aid/CPR and much more.

This season would not have been the success it was without a lot of support, without our Age Managers and Assistants there would simply be no Nippers program. They’ve kept the children safe and entertained for two hours solid each Sunday, rain, hail or shine.

I sincerely thank water safety supervisor, Vicki Schooth and her water safety team, behind the scenes dynamo Ron Organ, wonderful admin lady Helen Brown, Michelle Gilmore for uniform sales, Mark Lawler for First Aid and CPR, caterer Naomi Cole and our club president Justin Schooth and committee for their support.

Sign-on lady Tracey Hethorn, Brad Hethorn and their daughter Remy, have helped out all season even though their children have outgrown Nippers.

Thanks also to all the Mums and Dads who have helped with the break up today or throughout the season. Also thanks to Don Reid and Jake Reid for the sound system, Gympie Printing for the attendance certificates, Deans Ice and Andrew Kingsley and Rainbow Beach Fruit for providing the salad and fruit!

I cannot thank our young age managers Stuey (king of the kids), Remy and Jake for your efforts this season, you guys are fantastic!

Kayla Meldrum deserves recognition for attending every single training session throughout the season! See table for all award recipients.

Finally, congratulations Hugh Gilmore – for Most Outstanding Nipper, sponsored by Tony Perrett. He has continuously proven his skills and always has a great attitude and motivation for Nipper activities.

Not only did he compete in our Rainbow Beach Carnival, but followed it up on day two of the carnival, completing the irons event, which is a huge effort. His eagerness to ‘get out there’ is fantastic, and he has even offered to carry my heavy Nipper boxes to the sand for me.

Age Group	Age Managers	Sleepy Lagoon Hotel Encouragement	RBCC Community News Most Improved	Doyles Garage Most Consistent
U6	Remy Hethorn and Susan Bahr	Brandi Kenman	Kiara Craig	Elijah Hapi
U7		Scarlet Duggan	Ruby Klekar	Zoe Kingsley
				QCivil Male Age Champion*	Doyles Garage Female Age Champion*
U8	Stuart Wilson	Sam Norman		Connor Smith
U9	Justin Schooth	Jordan Brown		Alex Kingsley	Emily Schooth
U10	Dee and Andy White	Ingrid Bahr	Amassa McPherson	Jimi Duggan	Jasmin White
U11		Annie White	Kayla Meldrum	Will Dawkins and Archie Gilmore	Matilda Duggan
U12	Heatley Gilmore and Rebecca Duggan	Charlie Kingsley	Piper Treeby	Alex Brantz	Sophie Schooth
U13		Jorja Duggan	Jasmine Wintle-Legge	Hugh Gilmore	Abby Schooth
U14	Jake Reid			Bailey Craig

*Prizes sponsored by Rainbow Sea Resort, Gympie and District Veterinary Services, Steely’s Windscreen Ambulance, Sportspower Gympie and Ashmore Palms Holiday Village