SAILABILITY
TIN CAN BAY
NEWS
VIETNAM VETS DONATION
Gympie Vietnam Veterans Association have donated a cheque for $250.00 to Sailability Tin Can Bay. The cheque was presented to Sailability President Jon Jones by Amanda Neal who sails with Sailability weekly.
This donation will assist with the cost of new slings for lifting and lowering our clients into the boats. It is greatly appreciated and will most certainly go to good use.
Sailability operates every Friday at Norman Point for anyone with a disability.
Once again thank you for your support.
Date: 5 May 2022
ABOVE: Sailability Tin Can Bay President Jon Jones accepts the donation cheque from Amanda Neal.
LIFT OFF APPROVED!
On Monday 8 July, Sailability Tin Can Bay President Paul Oliver extended a warm welcome to invited guests, especially Sailability Tin Can Bay Patron, Mick Curran, Mayor of Gympie Regional Council, Councillor Mark McDonald, the valuable Sailability volunteers, and friends, to officially recognise the acquisition of a new hoist.
For the past 11 years, volunteers have managed, sometimes painfully, with an old manually operated hoist. It seemed that it was a case of ‘don’t pick me, pick me’ at times when tasks were handed out. Thanks to the intervention of local physiotherapist, Sue Bennett, we realised that the manual hoists days were over. It was then determined by the Sailability TCB management committee that a fully electrically operated hoist had to be acquired, and a grant was to be applied for.
As if by magic, at this time we received a letter from a firm of solicitors in Gympie, informing us that a lady who had lived here for several years and had supported Sailability in its early days, had passed away, and more importantly that she had bequeathed her entire estate to Sailability Tin Can Bay.
Mae Dawn Sadlier, known to friends as Dawn, was a crime writer who had been very involved in forensic policing during her time with Queensland Police Service. She had used her work experiences to write one novel, Chain of Evidence, and was working with our Sailability secretary on a sequel when Dawn became ill, and had to be cared for in Noosaville. She had always said she would look after Sailability TCB in her will, and was true to her word. We will always be grateful for her concern and her generous gift.
Patron, Mick Curran, officially opened our new hoist.
Date: 8 July 2019
L-R: Coast Guard Tin Can Bay Deputy Commander Dieter Voss, Patron and Mayor Mick Current, Roma Raven (in lift sling), Councillor Mark McDonald, Sailability President Paul Oliver, Secretary Raewyn Oliver and Vice President Arthur Hammond, with Sailability volunteers gather in the background.
VALE: JO SOLOMON
It is regret that I inform you of the passing of Sailability volunteer and Tin Can Bay Yacht Club member, Jo Solomon.
Jo had been ill with cancer for some years but had continued to participate in Sailability activities up to the last few months and in fact, had revalidated her Sailing Instructors ticket early July. Jo had been a regular participant in the yacht club's Green Fleet sailing as a skipper. Jo instructed in most "learn to sail courses", particularly the junior courses, participating in all but the last one in September 2018.
Jo used to own a small Compass keel boat called "Mornington" which she brought down from Bundaberg and used to cruise the Sandy Straits. She also occasionally raced with the yacht club, although racing was not her passion.
The last of her active sailing was as a regular skipper with Sailability Tin Can Bay. She gradually reduced her Friday time on the water as her energy waned, but she still tried for as long as she was able. Her presence around the yacht club and Sailability will be missed.
Her funeral was held on Thursday 11 October, 2018 at the cemetery on the Rainbow Beach Road. The service was attended by the many different people her varied life crossed paths with.
She leaves a son, Coppel, and a brother, Laurie.
Russell Shannon
Sailability Volunteer & Commodore, Tin Can Bay Yacht Club
VOLUNTEERS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS
Sailability Tin Can Bay volunteers and friends gathered at Tin Can Bay Yacht Club after the last client sailing day for 2014 for their annual Christmas Luncheon. Vice President Patrick provided the lovely “spread”, during which President Paul thanked everyone for their contribution during the year, and a toast was proposed in memory of absent friends, founding President Barry Ryan and previous Deputy President Steve Shaeffer-Steel. Some young Sailability friends (visiting grandchildren of volunteers) assisted with the distribution of Patrick’s delicious cassata for dessert, which wrapped up the event. An enjoyable time was had by all. See you in 2015!
Skipper Len and coordinator assistant Pam
Coorindator Lois and pontoon supervisor Max
President and skipper Paul and Secretary and Registrar Raewyn
Safety boat driver Peter (left) and pontoon crew member Arthur (right) with Arthur's wife
Skipper John with Elspeth
Safety boat drivers Len and Peter toast the end of another successful Sailability year
Officer of the Day Jon and pontoon crew member Alan
Coordinator assistant Pam and Coordinator Sue
Two, four, six, eight, dig in don't wait! Sue serves lunch
VALE: STEVE "STAINLESS" SCHAEFFER-STEEL, VICE PRESIDENT ... 2.11.1952 - 14.8.2014
The life of Steve "Stainless" Schaeffer-Steel was celebrated at the Gregson & Weight funeral chapel at Nambour on Saturday 30 August 2014. Stainless's family were joined by his Army mates, a large contingent from the Queensland Police Service where he made his career for thirty years, and over 200 friends and acquaintances who attended to pay their last respects. Read More ...
FUNDRAISING EVENT: MORNING TEA WITH COSTA
We enjoyed a lovely morning with Gardening Australia's Costa Geordiadis when he visited us at Tin Can Bay Yacht Club on Monday 14th July. Another wonderful morning, thanks to Costa and his exuberant, animated, energetic and enthusiastic personality. The weather was decidedly cool but Costa soon warmed us with his charm, although to be fair we did have to move to the TCBYC deck to get out of the wind after morning tea.
Pam Graham presented Costa with a quantity of Cooloola Cove Wetlands and Waterways publication, which is a fantastic little booklet put together by the Cooloola Coastcare As-sociation and Cooloola Cove Residents & Friends. (If you haven’t already got a copy then please see Pam and find out more about the Flora and Fauna of the area and what we can do to help the environment locally).
We are extremely lucky that Costa was a keynote speaker at the Nambour Garden Expo held over the weekend and that Costa’s uncle Jim lives in Cooloola so he was able to combine a visit to the family, give a fundraising talk with Sailability, give a talk to the local school and schedule a visit to the old folk in the Nursing homes – phew! What a guy.
Sailability would like to thank the following who kindly donated plants which were used as raffle prizes and helped to raise funds for Sailability: Cooloola Coast Garden Group, Rod & Leonie Westaway, Colin & Marjorie Knight, City Farm Native Nursery and Wallu Nursery. Thanks also to Patrick for his lovely home-made scones and all the other Sailability members and supporters who helped on the morning.
SAILABILITY TIN CAN BAY WIN TCBYC AUSTRALIA DAY CHALLENGE
We may have been a day late celebrating Australia Day, but the delay did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of members and friends. Together with affiliate clubs, Cooloola Dragon Boat Club and Sailability Tin Can Bay, around eighty people gathered at the Club in true Aussie style to contest the Annual Australia Day Challenge.
Sailability in 2nd place in heat 1
Rounding the first mark in heat 1
Heading for the finish line and 2nd place in heat 1
Chasing the Yachties to the first mark in heat 2
Laying it on the line in the gusty conditions
Showing our paddling style in the dragon boat time trial
Kayak Kaos begins
Yachties and Dragons try to stop AJ getting to the finish line
Beach games
Paul shows how to toss a beach boule
FUNDRAISING EVENT: MORNING TEA WITH COSTA
Costa Georgiadis from ABC Gardening Australia visited Tin Can Bay to give a lively and informative talk. Approximately 100 people attended to listen to Costa's words of gardening wisdom. Costa gave kindly of his time and donated some citrus trees to help our cause. He was also able to got for a sail in one of our 303's with Alan, one of our sailing instructors. Costa enjoyed this immensely and if he hadn't called him back in, he would still be out there! Costa looks forward to returning to Tin Can Bay in 2014.
