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Christmas and Awards Celebration 2020

A fantastic end of year celebration was enjoyed by over 65 members and partners. By all reports the food and entertainment was excellent and everyone had lots of fun. Thank you to the Social Committee and particularly Carol, Lisa, Janet and Christine for all their work in running this event.

Club Awards

Club Awards were announced during the dinner with the following recipients recognised:

Junior Paddler of the Year – Jordan Fleming

Jordan has participated and trained as a member of the West Australian Slalom Pathways Squad (WASPS), competed at the Age Champs in Tasmania and National Championships and Australian Open both in Penrith.

Congratulations to fellow nominees Beau and Connor Jacob.

Paddler of the Year – Travis England

Travis is an accomplished paddler who won the Avon Descent 2019, was the winner of the Ramon 2020, best placed SCC member in Thursday Night Time Trials and best placed SCC member in the IOP events for 2020. Travis has also developed and coordinates the Drummers Downwinder with over 400 paddlers attending and trains aspiring paddlers on a Tuesday morning.

Congratulation to fellow nominees Patrick Carmody and Martin Wells.

Club Member of the Year – Rebecca Wong and Martin Wells

Rebecca was nominated for her involvement in peer and club paddles. She helps with organisation, supports fellow paddlers with skills and techniques and is very inclusive enabling many new and ongoing paddlers an enjoyable experience. Rebecca has also qualified as a guide this year as well as taking on the role of Secretary in the SCC Committee.

Marty was nominated for his passion for paddling and willingness to share with others as best demonstrated through his much enjoyed Murry Delta Paddle (which was mentioned in many nominations!). Marty also qualified as a guide and is an active member of the peer paddles, T&D Committee and generally supporting Club activities.

Congratulation to fellow nominees Edward Clerk and Patrick Carmody.

Hero Award – Patrick Carmody

Patrick was nominated for so many awards however it was decided that Hero was the best fit! Not only has Patrick’s paddling improved amazingly over the last year but he has also put in endless hours maintaining things at the Club. He is always fixing and replacing hoses and washes, gardening, sweeping helping move boats, assisting other paddlers and generally being a nice guy. Many members showed their appreciation for Patrick’s efforts through multiple nominations. A well deserved award.

Congratulation to fellow nominees Rebecca Wong and Evi Ferrier

Thank You and Other Awards

Beau and Connor Jacobs – most improved paddlers (and ones to watch)

Marion Ewing, Sarah Whittaker and Jennifer Houston – for supporting peer paddles

Gavin Hartley – for always putting up his hand to assist with catering

Paul Covalato – for a water incident at Zephyr

Julian Coombes  – kayak breaker award (thanks for letting us know and rectifying the damage)

Andy Hewlett – Stirrer of the Year resurrected from history for an incident at the Halloween Paddle!

 

Penguin Island – December 2020

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Penguin Island Blues

Sunday the 6th December dawned with blue skies, sunshine and the promise of wind. Not the sort from baked beans, but the sort that blows strongly from the south west. Undaunted, fourteen intrepid Swannies arrived early at Palm Beach and girded up their loins and their kayaks for the eighteen-kilometre return paddle to Penguin Island. After a brief beach briefing, they headed off under the Garden Island causeway under the guidance of Geoff and Colin. The wind was blowing at about fifteen knots, but Swannies laugh at danger.

After repairing a dodgy rudder on the Scorpio (thanks Pat) and dodging a few power boats, the causeway was left behind and the group paddled onward toward John Point. Three Sea Kayak Club members paddled by us on the way and we called a hello to Jill and Judy. Low tide meant a few challenges navigating south behind Mushroom Rock toward Point Peron, but Swannies love a challenge.

Guided by Russ, we made it safely to the shelter at Bird Island and had a breather in the lee of the island. From there we headed south for Seal Island, aware that the wind was swinging more south and with the south west swell, causing a few waves to break on the reef. The conditions were a challenge for some of our newer members, including one paddler who was on the sea for the first time, but of course Swannies love the sea.

Somnolent sea-lions slumped on the sand at Seal Island, but squadrons of pelicans practising their formation flying and synchronised beach landings made up for the lazy sea-lions. It was good to be in the lee of the island out of the wind again, chewing thoughtfully on a jelly baby. Graeme was having an ornithological moment, getting in touch with his inner twitcher and of course Swannies all love birds, don’t we Karen?

With the wild wind and waves, we were all pretty happy for discretion to push aside valour and land on the sheltered east side of Penguin Island for a bite to eat, a bit of leg stretching and to answer the siren call of nature. A few of us checked out our usual landing site on the seaward side and were impressed by the rocks and white caps. Swannies do love rocks it’s true, but not when they’re banging against our precious kayaks.

With the wind kicking up over twenty knots or about thirty-six kilometres an hour from the sou-southwest we all were having thoughts of the homeward trip. It didn’t take much encouragement to mount up again, push through the sea grass and so into deeper water. Geoff struggled with his sail at the back,  as the other paddlers disappeared toward Seal Island and after nearly getting blown over, decided to paddle instead. Pat was looking forward to the waves and of course  Swannies love the waves.

It was a fast trip back and despite the wind pushing a few of us onto shallow reef, we all stayed upright and almost dry. The wind was still blowing hard after we turned the corner at John Point, but we were starting to feel more relaxed with the causeway in sight. After bouncing through the chop and under the causeway we were all pleased to see the sand at Palm Beach. As you may have guessed, Swannies really love the beach.

As we packed up with the wind blowing at about twenty-one knots, I was impressed that one of the Sea Kayak Club WA members drove by to check that we had got back safely. Thanks for a challenging paddle to Colin, Russ, Rowan, Tracey, Claire, Janet, Rebecca, Des, Mike, Mark, Trevor, Patrick and Graeme. To borrow from Henry V and assuming the girls are honorary brothers  “We few , we happy few, we band of brothers:” can look back on St Crispin Day or any day for that matter and say we were there and we survived!

Geoff Emery

Sea Instructor

7/12/20.

Anyone interested in joining Club paddles on the sea in the future should keep an eye out for the Intro to Paddling a Sea Kayak Course in next years T&D Intro Series – more dates to be issued shortly.
The course content can be viewed here 

Committee Update #7 COVID-19

From Saturday 5th December, SCC is required by the WA Department of Health to maintain a Contract Register for COVID-19 contact tracing.

Failing to comply with the new requirements to maintain a contact register could result in fines and penalties of up to $50,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a body corporate or 12 months’ imprisonment.

To make this as easy as possible for our members, their guests and other visitors there are 3 ways to register attendance at SCC:

  1. Use your fob; or
  2. Scan the QR code displayed on posters at the front door, roller door and foyer, using the SafeWA App on your phone; or
  3. Complete the manual register on the stand up desk in the foyer.

Members are always encouraged to use their fob and if used no further recording is recording. If you don’t have or use a fob, you must either use the SafeWA App to scan the SCC QR code or complete your details in the manual register.

Details of the SafeWA App are available on the Western Australia Government Website.

Children under 16 are not required to complete their details – however this is encouraged.

A new COVID-19 Safety Plan for SCC is displayed on the noticeboard or available through the following link:

SCC_COVID-19-Safety-Plan-Phase-4_2

Please remember to always follow government directives, practice good hygiene and comply with capacity limits signposted at the Club.

Boat Auction – Clearance Sale

Update Post Auction

Remaining boats are now available by donation of $50 – $100 on a first comes first served basis. Please email admin@swancanoeclub.org.au your offer.

Lot 1 to 11 is offered to SCC Members and the broader paddling community with no reserve pricing

Auction Opens – Friday 4th December 9 am

Auction Closes – Thursday 17th December 12 midnight

Auction Process:

  • Boats can be viewed in the boatshed – locations noted below.
  • Craft may be tested on the water by members on the condition that they are washed and replaced in the relevant racks immediately after. Non-members should contact Dave Gilbert for access (0459 848 340).
  • Bids can be placed via email only (admin@swancanoeclub.org.au) from Auction Open to Auction Close, any bids received outside this time will not be accepted.
  • Bids must state the LOT number, bid amount and bidders name.
  • A new bid from the same person for the same craft will supersede their previous bids.
  • Contingent bids will be accepted if preference is clearly stated – eg LOT 1 $100, LOT 2 $100 if didn’t win LOT 1, LOT 5 $150 if didn’t win LOT 1 or LOT 2.
  • The winning bidders will be notified via email including payment instructions on Friday 18th December.

Auction Conditions:

  • Craft are sold ‘as is’, the club takes no responsibility for any defects or repairs which may be required.
  • Payment by the winning bidder must be made via direct deposit by Monday 21st of December. Details will be provided with notification of winning bid.
  • Craft do not come with any rights to boat storage and must be removed from club premises as soon as possible (after payment).
  • There is no reserve on the craft and the highest bidder will be the winning bid. Where there are two or more bids of the same value the earliest bid will be the winner.
  • Unsold boats will be sold to the public via Gumtree or similar at the Boat Officers discretion.

Boats for Auction are stored in the following racks:

Not for auction Not for auction Not for auction
B-4-10 B-4-11 Not for auction
B-3-10 B-3-11 B-3-12
B-2-10 B-2-11 B-2-12
B-1-10 B-1-11 B-1-12

Prijon Fly
Small playboat, suit teen or small adult
Blue
0026 – LOT 1 – SOLD

Finnatic Playboat
Suit teen or small adult
Purple/ blue
0422 – LOT 2 – SOLD

Dagger Transition
Low volume playboat
Suit teenager or small adult
Red

No number – LOT 3 – SOLD

Jackson Creek Boat
High volume
Excellent condition
Red
0431 – LOT 4 – SOLD

Perception Corsica
Red
0017 – LOT 5 – SOLD

Wildcat
Plastic white water kayak
Yellow
0144 – LOT 6 – SOLD

Perception Dancers
Beginners white water kayak
X 3 all red
8301 – LOT 7 – SOLD
8100 – LOT 8
0305 – LOT 9 – SOLD

Wave Sport Habitat 74
Creek boats
X 2 both green
0424 – LOT 10 – SOLD
0423 – LOT 11 – SOLD

SCC Paddle Rally 2020

The SCC Paddle Rally was held on Sunday 22nd November. It was a fun afternoon of paddling against the clock whilst interpreting clues and recording answers. Drinks and nibbles were enjoyed on the balcony after the presentation. Members looked after each other with Geoff sacrificing some time to render assistance to a fellow paddler and Patrick accompanying a new member – including providing a tow.

Congratulations to Graeme and Grace who won the event even though Graeme had to back track to the Club to get a new pencil after loosing theirs at Chidley Point. Grace used the time to count all the steps at Chidley Point helping them win the day!

Full Moon Halloween Paddle – Social Committee October 2020

About 35 SCC members attended the Halloween Moonlight Paddle and helped build the mood of the event by dressing their boats or themselves in Halloween themed costumes, including a skeletal paddler proving that old paddlers never die, we just get dry bones. We enjoyed a very spookily decorated club room and feasted on eyeball jelly cups and spider egg muffins. The weather was balmy and the full blue moon was beautiful.  A big thanks to Andy and Sue for the decorations and catering.

Murray Delta Paddle Trip Report – October 2020

Inaugural Murray Delta Meander

The Murray River is only one hour from Perth, but feels a million miles away. Guide Marty Wells, assisted by the two Geoffs, led a group of 18 on a lazy 16-kilometre paddle around the lower Murray’s southern and central river channels and deltaic islands.

After paddling past the riverside shacks and mansions on South Yunderup Island, the group picnicked on Cooleenup Island and explored the historic Coopers Mill. They were greeted by the caretaker of the Mill who explained how the islands are vegetated sandbanks, prone to extreme flooding and at risk of disappearing within 20 years. Oh, and if you park your car on the opposite bank, it is likely to be vandalized and burnt out.

It isn’t all environmental doom, gloom and hoons. The area is rich with birdlife and the water teeming with crabs. Karen and Graeme, the club’s resident ornithologists, made sure the rest of the group knew exactly what they were looking at.

Everyone agreed the paddle was a huge success and needs to become a regular event and an ice cream stop on the return paddle should be compulsory for all trips.

PWA Instructor / Guide of the Year Award

Congratulations to Geoff Emery who was recently selected as the PWA Instructor / Guide of the Year for Western Australia. As the WA winner Geoff has also been nominated for the Australian Award.

Through the Swan Canoe Club (SCC), in the past year Geoff Emery has taught dozens of people to paddle flat water, white water, sea kayak and Eskimo roll. He has taught members and non-members alike, ranging in age from ten to well over 80. He has guided sprightly seniors down rapids on the Blackwood River, instructed novice paddlers how to navigate the swell off Penguin Island and led experienced sea kayakers on expeditions around Albany. With patience, clear instruction and good humour, he has helped newbies discover the joy of paddling and more experienced paddlers develop their skills.

When he isn’t nurturing novices, he’s guiding future guides. This year he trained five people as Flat Water Kayak Guides (three have qualified so far) and in the process, qualified as an Assessor. He is currently a Flat Water Instructor and Assessor, a Sea Instructor and Assessor and a White Water Instructor and Assessor.

Geoff gives freely of his skills and time. He is a member of the SCC committee and has previously served as secretary and chairman. He also chairs the SCC Training & Development committee and ensures the club offers a year-round calendar of courses and trips to further skill development.

Somehow, he has managed to find the time to do all of this while working as a GP in his own medical practice. He recently retired in May 2020, just after his 70th birthday, freeing him up to spend even more time on the water.

Sea Kayak Paddle: Coogee to SCC Trip Report – October 2020

A joint Swan Canoe Club and Sea Kayak Club WA paddle from Coogee Marina to SCC was enjoyed by all who paddled on the 25th of October.

Serpentine Sojourn – September 2020

SERPENTINE SOJOURN Geoff Emery 27/9/20.

After a delay due to last weeks’ high winds and poor weather, the club Serpentine River paddle took place on Sunday 27th September. To everyone’s surprise we had sunshine, light winds and a great paddle. Our original group of seventeen paddlers was reduced to nine, but “We few, we happy few…” had a lot of fun, including an interesting, somewhat wet display of Zen Kayaking by Dale, done completely without a kayak!

Once on the water, Janet, Jocelyn, Carol, Evi, Dale, Steve, Paul, Mike and Geoff headed north up the Serpentine and into Yalbanberup Pool. There were some navigational challenges and shallow-water, but they failed to detract from the pleasure of the paddle.
We were kept on our pedals by fish jumping, squadrons of pelicans skimming and circling and even an unidentified animal leaping out of the reeds and over Janet’s kayak!

Continuing up Guanarnup Pool, Steve acted as ‘tail end Charlie,’ making sure we didn’t lose too many paddlers to the lurking reed islands. We made good progress over the next nine kilometres without having to use the whip much at all. Powered by Evi’s liquorice allsorts we made it to the island lunch stop a bit early and decided to continue further upstream. Along the way we cruised under the local farmer’s decrepit bridge and took a few short-cuts across the river loops, before finding a floating barrier after about two kilometres. There was speculation as to whether it was a secret crocodile farm, a barrier to trap tiger snakes or trying to reduce salinity, but hunger overwhelmed the speculation and we headed back for lunch.

As we were disembarking, Dale gave us a demonstration of Zen Kayaking, where you imagine there is a kayak beneath you as you sit on the water and paddle. It was an entertaining demonstration, but we all agreed it needs a bit more work. Lunch on the grass was very pleasant, especially for the mosquitoes that joined us. Fortunately, a few people had remembered to bring RID which eventually blunted the mosquito’s enthusiasm for human flesh, although Mike remained popular.

After lunch we retraced our track and got back to the cars as the clouds moved in. Once packed up, thoughts of a chilled glass of wine, while slumped in the bath had us heading for home. Overall, we were lucky with the lack of wind and rain and enjoyed an interesting paddle with great company. Or at least I thought I was great company, but I might be wrong.

Geoff Emery
Instructor.