Surf Life Saver Profile of the Week - 7

Published: November 24, 2022 Last Updated: November 24, 2022

Welcome Judy and thanks for sharing with us.

 

So let’s get deep and meaningful straight up

Q – How long have you been in Coolum Surf Life Saving Club and what motivated you to volunteer your time?

Seeing what my husband was getting out of it inspired me to have a go.  As a kid in Canada, I’d had swimming lessons every summer in a cold lake and did my Royal Lifesaving Bronze Cross in a pool, BUT I had not been in the ocean for 10 years when I joined a Bronze Course last year!  Getting back in the ocean was like the first time at Cronulla Beach, I came up spitting and wiping salt off my face.

 

Q – Is your experience so far what you thought it would be?

My first few patrols I felt like a fraud.  I probably take it more seriously than most – and being such a new Bronzey, I’m very aware the public expects us to be able to do what we’re standing there to do and I didn’t feel confident then.  However, talking to people, asking questions, taking courses has helped a lot in the last few months, to the point I look out on “our Beach” now with more of a feeling of belonging.

 

On a lighter side

Q – Where did you grow up? (Assuming you’ve grown up)

I grew up in Canada and came here in 1979 as a 19-year-old with a one-year visa.  I lived in Sydney for 10 years, (Ashfield and Harbord).  Then the guy I liked (my husband of 35 years) convinced me to go cruising the East Coast in a yacht. 20 years of that provided indescribable experiences in and on the water.  The first time we came to Mooloolaba, we knew we didn’t want to go back to Sydney, so we bought and sold property in various suburbs (including Pt Arkwright).  Getting off our 43’ cat for the summer we’d stay in Pt Arkwright.  And when we finally decided to come ashore it’s to this unit in Pt Arkwright that we’ve chosen to prop permanently.  That was 13 years ago.

 

Q – What’s the best job you’ve ever had?

All my jobs were in aviation, starting out as an aircraft refueller at Calgary Airport, then Sydney Airport.  The best job: Refueller & Manager of the Hamilton Island Airport 1984 – 1985.  Hamilton Island was “the” place for celebrities and wannabes to come, so we always had some famous faces u arriving usually by private jet.  This included the Airforce wanting “touch & go” manoeuvres as well as the Coast Watch aircraft dropping in for a break.

The Island had the contract to fly the Ship Pilots out to the ship waiting to come through Hydrographers Passage into Mackay.  If nothing was going on, I’d go for a ride – quite the talent our pilots had at placing a helicopter down on a moving ship. On one of these trips, I jumped out on to the helipad to assist the ship pilot out of the cockpit – the pilot in his cheekiness, changed the pitch of the blades ever so slightly making the dress I was wearing fly up over my head creating quite a response from the bridge of that ship! (Ohh to be young again!)

 

Q – Any nicknames?

My maiden name was Noakes – so at school I got called Nudy Joakes!

 

Q – Any Hobbies?

Motorcycles – I run the Sunshine Coast Motorcycle Group for Women. It's been going for 22 years and I have been Group Leader for 9.... absolutely love the camaraderie we share having come together just through bikes.  My first bike was a Suzuki SV650, then a SV1000 which I had for 13 years because I didn’t know what to replace it with.  I finally found its replacement 3 years ago – Kawasaki Z1000. As I didn’t like the Kawasaki Green, I had its green bits painted pink.

Sewing – well that was before Surf Life Saving

 

Q – Favourite Music/Musician/Band

First concert was Dr Hook in 1976 in Canada

Favourite band, Cold Chisel

 

Q – Can you cook and what’s your favourite dish to prepare?

I couldn’t boil water when I left home at 18!  So, I became self-taught including falling in love with pressure cooker cooking.  Well, the flavour of using that method.

My signature dish was Parmesan Chicken with basil sauce and Cheesecakes.  Unless you hand me fresh mackerel, then its Doyle’s beer battered recipe I LOVE.

 

Q – Final & Life defining Question…. Pineapple on Pizza, Yes or No??

Yes 

(Yayy!)

 

Cheers Judy, great story and thanks again for sharing with us.

 

If you’d like to share your story here with your mates, please contact your member officer - we’d all love to hear it. Cheers