General News
24 November, 2024
Full-on weekend in Shire
LAST weekend was packed with activities in the Douglas Shire, kicking off, or should I say teeing off, last Friday, November 15, with the Tin Shed Golf Day at Palmer Sea Reef Golf Club.
The day offered its expected challenging round of golf on the championship course, with a vast selection of prizes up for grabs, supplied by local sponsors. Participants also had the chance to win a cash prize for a hole-in-one, on the 11th. Unfortunately, nobody was able to score the required ‘ace’ this year.
Play got underway after a shotgun start with nearly 50 teams of two playing ‘ambrose’. A number of low scorecards were returned to the clubhouse, but the eventual winners were Paul Bridges and Peter Hay.
Alongside the golf itself, the day was dedicated to Movember, raising more than $7000 for men’s health initiatives.
Movember has funded more than 1250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.
The Tin Shed Golf Day also included a silent auction and raffles for people in the competition, as well as for those not playing, on the day, but wanting to support the important cause.
The following day, Saturday, the very first family fun run and walk event was held at Mossman Gorge.
Apart from being the official opening of a new shared pathway at the Gorge, The Yalanji R.A.W. ‘reconciliation run and walk’ was set up to encourage a healthy lifestyle. The morning was also intended as a celebration of unity, health and culture, bringing people together.
Since opening, the shared pathway, from the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, has already been in use by cyclists, joggers, walkers and those with mobility scooters and last Saturday became the initial route taken for the morning’s event.
Fun run and walk course distances included a junior 1km ‘deadly dash’ sprint for the speedsters or a stroll for those who preferred a more sedate pace. This was followed by a 2km ‘mighty Mossman mile’ and then the 4km ‘gruelling gorge gallop’. A free T- shirt was provided to all participants, plus a healthy community breakfast, put on by the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. About 200 took part.
Keeping the momentum up for the weekend, a Volunteer Extravaganza and Community Morning was held at the Port Village Shopping Centre, on Saturday morning, November 16.
Apart from a celebration of our great local vollies, this was a chance to meet and greet volunteer organisations, chat with other local volunteer heroes, plus enjoy live entertainment, a petting zoo, a badge making class, a weaving circle and heaps more.
This busy morning was the idea of the Douglas Grass + Roots Coordinator Tanya Morris, who would not have been disappointed with attendance numbers.
Last week the ‘Goss’ mentioned the gifting of a beach wheelchair from Mossman Support Services to Ellis Beach Surf Life Saving Club. As planned, last Sunday, there was a barbecue in the carpark, on the beach side, near the patrol hut at Ellis Beach.
Funds were originally raised at a ‘Bollywood’ evening held at the Mossman Shire Hall last year. The wheelchair, with its special design to allow easier access onto any beach, was originally planned for Port Douglas Surf Life Saving Club. At the same time, by coincidence, another organisation presented the club with one, so it wasn’t required and has now gone to Ellis Beach.
As another gesture, the Ellis Beach club has donated their slightly older beach access wheelchair to the Etty Bay club.
“Ellis Beach Surf Lifesaving Club strives to be an inclusive club that invites all members of the public to come and enjoy a day at the beach in a safe environment. This can sometimes be challenging for people living with a disability,” said club captain Sonja Conners.
I’m off to get ready for another busy weekend, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
