Member's Forum

OK, the Forum has been moved once again. It is now on the left hand side of the page, near the bottom of the main directory.

WM

ACT Region

The drought seems to be well and truly over. The river levels are the highest they have been for four years and they have been consistently high enough for good river running. There has not been much in the way of AWWA river running but with the influx of AWWA paddlers to the ACT next year, there should be plenty happening in 2006. Although the river levels usually drop over summer, Burrinjuck Dam now has water in it again so there should be releases in late summer.

There is a civy canoe polo competition played weekly of an evening at the Tuggeranong pool. AWWA usually has a team or at least a few players in a composite team. If you are interested in playing, contact Rohan Hartcher to find out what is going on.

We want to start 2006 with a membership drive and the development of an activity program that meets members desires. There is a thread on the Forum that has been started to capture what people want to. If you are interested in paddling in the ACT (doesn't matter what you want to do or what experience you have), have your say in the Forum so we can put together activities that will help you meet your paddling goals. For example, if you have never paddled before and you want to learn how to, tell us and we will organise an intro clinic. If you want to learn about different equipment for paddling, we can organise a mbrs' night at one of the retailers.

Lyle
ACT REP

ACT Rep

NSW Region

Submitted: 8 August 2005
Attention AWWA Members in NSW !!!
? Please contact the NSW Rep by e-mail to confirm your current unit, location, contact details and paddling experience and qualifications. Just a few quick lines in an e-mail will be fine. We want to be able to put all the AWWA NSW white water kayakers in contact with each other, all the sea kayakers in contact with each other and so on. So help us to help you.
Work in progress
? The Army regional adventure training equipment loan pool for central NSW (water based activity equipment only), which is located at Randwick Barracks, has been reviewed, OC AATW has endorsed the findings and recommendations, and now awaiting a decision by AHQ. We will update you once AHQ advise their decision.
White Water Rafting
? Are you in the Sydney region and want to go white water rafting? Contact the NSW AWWA Rep.
? Currently seeking expressions of interest for a weekend activity in spring this year on a southern NSW river, possibly the Shoalhaven.
White Water Kayaking
? Penrith white water stadium is always an option for individual paddling. If you have not been before then contact the state Rep for details.
? Want to learn to white water kayak? It takes just one weekend to get you started with the basics.
? Currently seeking expressions of interest for both novice and intermediate kayaking activities in southern NSW in spring. Possibilities are the Shoalhaven River and/or the Barrington River .
Sea Kayaking
? Want to learn to sea kayak? The Sydney region is perfect for all levels of sea kayaking! Paddle Sydney Harbour, a national park, Bondi Beach, or go whale watching! Contact the state Rep for details.
Flat Water Paddling
? Any AWWA members in NSW who are involved in flat water paddling please let the state Rep know so that newer members can be informed about the flat water paddling options available in NSW.
Canoe Polo
? Want to play canoe polo in the Sydney Canoe Polo Competition this spring (starts 31 Aug). Wednesday nights at the Auburn Aquatic Centre 7-9.30 pm. It's a great way to improve your general paddling skills and especially your braces and rolling! Time is running out to start up a team. Contact the state Rep for details.
? Check out the Sydney Canoe Polo Competition website (Link located in WWW page).

NQLD Region

NQ Report -Dec 06

Submitted DEC 05
Sorry for the delay (WM)

Developments

Finally we have had some success over the last month which will enhance our involvement as a region in the New Year. Our home base has been the only set back as of recent. In order to secure a venue for our equipment at the Lavarack Barracks pool we will be waiting on the new HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training) facility to be completed. Once this has been vacated more space will be available within the confines of the pool establishment .Corporate Services will be reviewing our application again this month, so hopefully we will see some beneficial developments.

Equipment

Four new sea kayaks, one double and 3 singles are expected to arrive in the north in the new year. Our regional equipment manager Nigel Ellis will be handing over to Stu Baker this month. Special thanks go out to Nigel for his efforts with this appointment and we wish Nigel and Bree all the best with his posting to Darwin.

Training Areas

There is no real change to our training area applications for the year 2006. Each month the normal applications will be submitted along with an activity instruction which will cover all weekends over the entire month. A greater emphasis will be placed on the third weekend of each month for a major activity on any of the river systems that are flowing or Sea Kayaking activities within the region.

Activities

No official activities have occurred over the last 3 months. Several members have made the dash to the Tully River to enhance there skills or introduce new members to Whitewater Kayaking. As you probably know this period of the year gets very busy with Unit Adventurous Training and courses conducted by the Army Adventurous Training Wing. The majority of UATL's (Unit Adventurous Training Leaders) have been about supporting this training back to back. So Association involvement has been minimal. On the 1 Feb 06 a get together is scheduled for all members and members interested in becoming a member at the Lavarack Barracks Pool at 1630hrs. The purpose is to meet and discuss our direction for 2006. Hopefully our facility will be available with equipment in location. Check the Flyer that is posted on this website. Every Wednesday at 1630 hrs a clinic will be run for Whitewater and Sea Kayaking skills. No previous experience is required as qualified instructors will be conducting the training for both disciplines mentioned. Hope to see you there.
Remember AWWA is not only limited to Whitewater Rafting/Kayaking and Sea Kayaking. There is a lot of members who are UATL's in Roping base disciplines. Activities of this nature would include Abseiling/Top Roping and Canyoning

Membership

At the moment there are 35 members located in FNQ. If you have joined recently please e-mail me as to the date you joined and the date you deposited your membership fees. I am aware that there are members that do not exist on the database.

NQ Report-Feb 07

Before the year increases with to much momentum I wanted to report on NQ's direction for the year. I am aware that a lot of our members have returned from operational deployments around the globe but a lot are still deployed. So, out of the forty or so members in NQ we will definitely see various planned and conducted activities over the training year. With a big wet season already upon us, hopefully our river levels will provide our white water fraternity with an extended adventure season.

After successful White Water activities in 2006, this year it is intended to conduct at least one official white water Rafting/Kayaking or Sea Kayaking per month. Within the monthly activity it is proposed that an expedition style activity would replace or supplement that's month's activity. Last year Cyclone Larry prevented expedition style activities due to access on and off various river systems. If all goes well the month of March should see us out there amongst the elements.

NQ currently holds various White Water and Sea Kayaking Equipment. Our equipment is located at the transit accommodation block opposite the WETTS facility at Lavarack Barracks. Five Sea Kayaks, Two Rafts and 7 Inflatable and hard deck kayaks with associated equipment are available for use. There are four key holders to the equipment store with two located at Lavarack Barracks and the remaining located at RAAF Base Garbutt.

In the next month or so we will hopefully take delivery of our new trailer. The new trailer is designed to transport up to six Sea Kayaks or ten White Water kayaks and or four deflated Rafts with associated equipment.

Every Wednesday when available, NQ members meet at the Lavarack Barracks Pool for a general get together. Generally, a skills development session is conducted for novices by UATL's (Unit Adventurous Training Leaders). The session often ends with a quick game of Canoe Polo.

Finally, if you are a member and have moved to the NQ region during this posting cycle, please get in contact with me so that you can be added to the NQ database. This will ensure that you are kept up to date with Regional information etc.

Regards

Bob Godfrey

QLD Region

AWWA SEA KAYAKING MORETON BAY DECEMBER 2005

by Lyle Dahms

During the 2005 Christmas break, AWWA conducted sea kayaking activities in Moreton Bay, Queensland. Participants were Lyle Dahms, Bryan Cavanagh, Tony McKay and Colin Gunn.

We RVed at Cleveland Point at 0700 and after gearing up and doing the car shuttle, we were on the water by 0900. The crossing to Peel Island was not difficult despite the chop created by the outgoing tide running against the northerly wind (5-10kts). We rounded the SW tip of Peel Island and headed into Horseshoe Bay. The tide was still high enough at this point to get across the intertidal zone. Horseshoe Bay was like a marina. Every boaty in Brisbane seemed to be harbouring there. After a short swim in the not-very-refreshing, lukewarm, water we explored the wreck of the Penquin, and then headed south to Macleay Island. With the wind behind us and increasing to 10-15 kts, and the air temperature rising and becoming a tad uncomfortable (30 + degrees), we decided to raft up, rig a sail from with Tony's poncho and sail the 8km crossing. And sail we did. Best speed achieved by the raft was 4.3kts. We lunched at Macleay Island at the picnic ground on the northern tip of the island before making the short crossing to Coochiemudlo Island. After a short swim on the southern beach of Coochiemudlo, we made the final crossing to the boat ramp on the northern side of Victoria Point, finishing the trip at 1500.

We RVed at Wellington Point at 0700. A strong northerly wind was blowing as we geared up but fortunately it eased to 20 kts by the time we boated at 0800. The high tide meant we could head directly to Green Island across the intertidal zone. We made good speed (2 kts) into the head winds which continued to ease during the morning. We rounded the western side of Green Island and landed at a beach which was sheltered from the northerly winds by a small spit. We continued on to St Helena Island and landed at the SW tip before circumnavigating the island clockwise. The tide was ebbing quickly by this stage but we were able to get across the intertidal zone although it was getting rather shallow by the time we arrived back at our start point. We lunched at the picnic ground before walking up the trail to view the ruins of the penal colony. Access to the penal colony ruins is restricted but we were able to get a good view of them from the gate to the restricted area. By this stage (1230), the winds had eased to 4-6 kts so the fresh head wind we had paddled into in the morning was now a light tail wind. We headed to Wellington Point passing the eastern side of Green Island. Much of the intertidal zone was drying by this stage so we had to pass wide of Green Island and approach Wellington Point from the NE to avoid the mud/sand flats that were starting to become exposed. The air temperature was getting quite hot by this stage (30-35 degrees) and as the tail wind did little to cool us, it was a relief to complete the 7.5 km crossing. Trip completed at 1400.