It is my pleasure to present the Paddle Queensland Annual Awards Winners for 2024.
Video of the Year
Youngmin Kim of Currumbin Creek Paddlers Club. Head to our facebook page to see the video.
Youngmin Kim has built a reputation in the paddling community for producing quality videos of numerous paddling events
whether they be flatwater or ocean events and this year’s video of the 2024 Tingalpa Trot is another great example of his work.
Photo of the Year
Henry Janz of Varsity Lakes Paddlers Club. Click here to view the photo.
Photo taken by Henry at the last Junior sprints of our up and coming future Olympians having a team chat after the race.
Event of the Year
Maroochy River Paddle by Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club
The 2023 Maroochy River Paddle exemplifies what an outstanding event should be, meeting and exceeding the selection criteria for Paddle Queensland’s Event of the Year. Its seamless operations, effective promotion, and profound community impact make it a deserving candidate for this prestigious recognition.
Volunteer of the Year
Delia West of Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club and Natasha Parkinson of Varsity Lakes Paddlers Club
Delia is the heart and soul of the club and continues to brighten the days of each and every paddler through creating a welcoming atmosphere for members and non-members alike. Delia supports the club and the wider Sunshine Coast community through a range of activities including constant engagement across digital and social media channels, ensuring the club and its equipment is well maintained, arranging Come & Try sessions, committee meetings and time trials. Delia also excels at customer relations and has built strong foundations with the Sunshine Coast Council in securing long term leases with the city ensuring the clubs home is secured for generations to come.
Tash has worked tirelessly to promote the club develop and build a fun and exciting program for new and developing Junior paddlers. Organising extraordinary events for the junior paddlers. Acquired grants to build the club organised shed clean ups helped out not only at club level but also freely given her time at State and National events. She works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that especially the Juniors have a voice and stay at the sport. She coaches organises sessions and runs the social media accounts at the club that she has helped grow this year. Congratulations Tash we appreciate everything you do.
Instructor/Guide of the Year
Allana Bold of Sandgate Paddling Club
Allana’s dedication to paddling education and safety has made a significant impact across Queensland. This year, she delivered 15 courses under the Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme, training 63 professionals, and played a key role in supporting clubs and securing grants amongst other educational outcomes. Allana’s creative, inclusive programs and commitment to reaching communities statewide have solidified her as a leader in the paddling community. Her passion, professionalism, and tireless efforts have made her deserving of this award.
Club Coach of the Year
Julian Norton-Smith of Brisbane Paddling Club
Julian continues to open his door to any and all paddlers who are looking for advice, support and or direction into paddling, no matter what their level or where they live. Julian’s technique understanding and ability to communicate with all ages and level of paddler has him up with some of the best coaches in paddling. While his focus is on ocean racing, he is starting to transition some of his junior paddlers in sprint kayaking and working with QAS coaching to develop strong pathway programs. Brisbane Paddling Club would like to thank Julian for his ongoing support, his 3 am wake ups to drive to Brisbane to coach us and we look forward to a number of success stories from future event.
Club of the Year
Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club
The Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club has distinguished itself through successful organisation of various events, such as the Maroochy River Paddle in August 2023 and HiJinks on Eudlo in March 2023. Our club has earned a reputation for delivering well-run, enjoyable events. Our club is home to two QAS squads, including the senior squad and the You for 2032 athletes, who receive high-level coaching to nurture their talents. We regularly host various QAS training sessions, both on and off the water, and use our relationship with QAS and local media to elevate the club’s profile within the community. We have also supported the State Sprint Coach by providing a welcoming and friendly atmosphere for Pathways participants from other Queensland clubs, setting up shade shelters, chairs, tables, and refreshments for those attending. Our club members have been selected to represent at major events, such as the Asia Pacific Cup, Under 23 Worlds, and even the Olympics. Many of our members regularly compete at state, national, and international levels. In May 2024, we launched the “Women on the Water” program, supported by a State Government grant for Active Women and Girls. This program is set to grow further with the arrival of four Jester skis in October 2024, funded by this grant. Our club is committed to inclusivity, demonstrated by our implementation of free period product availability and disposal in our amenities. We also introduced a maintenance roster based on our committee’s maintenance plan, ensuring members take responsibility for tasks like emptying bins, cleaning, and mowing.
Junior Discipline Paddlers of the Year:
Canoe Marathon
Riley Scott of Currumbin Creek Paddlers Club
Riley is 14 years young and has achieved outstanding results in both sprint and marathon competitions. His achievements are in both under 16 and under 18 categories. He is a very dedicated and focused young paddler and we are excited to see what the future holds for Riley. His outstanding results to date excite the coaches and of course his family.
Canoe Ocean Racing
Abbey Carter and Ryan Voight of Paddle Queensland
Like all young professional athletes, Abbey’s training workload is intense. Balancing training loads, school loads and personal time, Abbey has shown her coaches and fellow paddlers that she is and will be more than capable to continue the focus and determination to reach her Olympic goals. Abbey is a role model to all ages and levels in showing everyone that hard work and determination you can achieve your goals.
Ryan continues to improve at training and is leaning how to paddle in the ocean. We are excited to watch Ryan over the next 12 months.
Canoe Polo
Elizabeth Hewett of Brothers Canoe Club
Beth competes at a level higher than her years should allow. She is a key member of the Queensland squad of women players, and is continuing to prove herself at club, national and international level. She is a fierce competitor, bringing her abundant energy and exuberance to all of the teams with whom she competes. Highlights of her stellar year were joining the Australian U18 Women A team at the 2023 Oceania Championships and being a member of the Queensland Open Women A team winning gold at the 2024 Australian canoe polo championships.
Canoe Sprint
Dakota Luke of Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club and Ziah Peisker of Paddle Queensland
Dakota has consistently demonstrated exceptional qualities both on and off the water. Her dedication to training is evident in her work ethic, always pushing herself to improve with every session. In competitions, Dakota remains focused and single-minded, never letting distractions interfere with her performance. This determination sets her apart as a competitor who gives her best in every race.
At just 17 years old, Ziah is an accomplished sprint, ocean ski, and marathon paddler. In 2023 and 2024, Ziah secured numerous first-place finishes at national and state championships, including at the Paddle Australia National Championships and Oceania/ GPs. This season Ziah set two new fastest Australian times recorded since 2010 in sprint kayak in the K1 500m, and K4 500m. Since 2022 internationally Ziah has represented Australia in Japan, New Zealand, Italy and Bulgaria, earning respectable world rankings and placements in sprint kayak.
Junior Paddlers of the Year
Dakota Luke of Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club and Riley Scott of Currumbin Creek Paddlers Club
Open Discipline Paddlers of the Year:
Canoe Marathon
Andrew Bavage of Sandgate Paddling Club
After coming back from a horrendous injury, Andrew has come back stronger than ever. Working with his coach Julian Norton-Smith, they have been able to rebuild, strength and increase season endurance and speed. Now back to 100%, Andrew is keen to get 2024-2025 season underway.
Canoe Ocean Racing
Phoebe Woodhouse of Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club and Cory Hill of Paddle Queensland
Phoebe Woodhouse is a very dedicated ocean ski paddler and claimed nine top ten places, including a second place at the State Ocean Racing Championships in 2023 and first place at the Nordic Kayak Beach to Beach Ocean Race early this year.
Cory Hill has proven to be the best paddler over the award period by a mile. No one can question his dominance on an ocean ski both nationally and internationally and over many different distances. Cory Hill is truly one of Australia’s greatest paddlers on water.
Paracanoe
Curtis McGrath of Varsity Lakes Paddlers Club
Curtis is a great role model for the sport. He works tirelessly to achieve his goals and has a positive attitude. He is kind friendly and supportive both on and off the water. Curtis has qualified and placed at World Champs World Cup GP2 and Nationals in all the craft he paddles. He qualified for the Olympics this year. Curtis is happy to share his words of wisdom and is looked up to by many members of the club.
Canoe Polo
Alana Pacholke of Springfield Centenary and Brothers Canoe Clubs and Jack Steel of Brothers Canoe Club
Alana is an ever-present figure in Queensland and Australian Canoe Polo. A long term member (and current President) of the Springfield Canoe Club, Alana organises, and usually runs all club training. She attends other clubs as well, and if anything is happening in the Queensland Canoe Polo world Alana is always around, competing, setting up, organising and helping out wherever possible. Her inclusion in Australian canoe Polo open women’s team for the Oceania championships and inclusion as captain of the Queensland Open women’s team (winning gold), are just two of many great achievements for the year for Alana.
Jack’s efforts go beyond only attending competitions. He has been the driver to establishing training sessions for our more ambitious canoe polo players. He has taken on the responsibility for organising and running a weekly session to enhance the skills of players interested in international squads. Jack makes himself available to younger players to assist with their skill development, often attend lower level training sessions to assist with coaching.
Canoe Sprint
Aly Bull of Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club and Tom Green of Varsity Lakes Paddlers Club
Aly Bull maintains her connection with the SCPC, despite her global achievements. This kind of dedication and loyalty is inspiring for our paddling community, particularly the younger women! Aly’s continued support and involvement with the club are heartwarming. Ally successfully nominated SCPC for a Woolworths Sports Grant and this has had a significant impact through helping provide operational essentials. Ally has lifted the profile of the SCPC and Sunshine Coast community on the world stage.
Tom Green has dedicated himself to the sport and worked tirelessly to achieve his goals. He is always friendly and kind on and off the water and will happily help anyone in need, He is always happy to chat. Tom has been successful qualifying for World Champs and World Cup. NSW State titles Nationals and GP2 where he qualified for the Olympics in Paris.
Open Paddlers of the Year
Aly Bull of Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club and Curtis McGrath of Varsity Lakes Paddlers Club
Master Discipline Paddlers of the Year:
Canoe Marathon
Nicky Donaldson of Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club
Nicky has demonstrated incredible resolve and determination in her paddling journey, especially after overcoming two broken wrists in 2022. Her commitment to the sport is evident through her participation in a range of events, including our monthly club time trials. She consistently adheres to her race plans, showcasing both grit and a strategic mindset.
Canoe Ocean Racing
Sue Beith of Brisbane Paddling Club and Stephen Major of Currumbin Creek Paddlers Club
Sue continues to push past her limits. Part of the Brisbane Paddling Club and coached by Julian Norton-Smith, Sue and Julian have been working on a number of on and off water which are clearly working. Sue continues to push herself looking for more challenging events to compete in. Are successfully competing in this year’s 14 Beaches, we are excited to see what Sue’s next big event will be.
Steve has shown that you can paddle anywhere. Working as FIFO, Steve following the Paddle 2 Fitness online training program while away and then joins the squad on the Gold Coast. Steve continues to put in great training sessions both on the water and on his ergo while away at work. Steve is a solid racer and a great trainer and member.
Canoe Sprint
Nicky Donaldson of Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club
Nicky has demonstrated incredible resolve and determination in her paddling journey, especially after overcoming two broken wrists in 2022. Her commitment to the sport is evident through her participation in a range of events, including our monthly club time trials. She consistently adheres to her race plans, showcasing both grit and a strategic mindset.
Master Paddlers of the Year
Nicky Donaldson of Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club and Stephen Major of Currumbin Creek Paddlers Club
Award trophies will be mailed to winners shortly.