Paul & Ian Norman Celebrate 50 Years

Published: May 21, 2024 Last Updated: May 21, 2024

Both Paul and Ian Norman joined Coolum Beach SLSC in 1974, at age 15 and 14 respectively, achieving their Bronze  Medallion under the guidance of trainer Brian Clem in a bronze squad with the well known Allen ‘Acer’ Cameron.

Nicknamed by their club mates as Hippy (Paul) and Stretch (Ian), they have both been strong surf sports competitors through the years. Paul has a surf sports history as both a competitive board paddler for 10 years and surf boat rower for 14 years winning State level Gold, Silver and Bronze medals through the years in A-grade and Reserve levels. Ian was and still is a strong Ironman, swim, board, and surf ski competitor, bringing home many Branch and State Title Gold, Silver and Bronze as both an Open and Masters competitor. 

Both contributors to the financial health of the club through various committee positions and many fundraising activities, the brothers spent their early years with the club selling tickets at the Friday night raffles at The Shipp Inn and The Majestic hotels in Brisbane before heading up the coast for training and patrols on weekends. This was followed by years of door-to-door collecting around the streets of Brisbane for the Annual Collection, these activities were key sources of income for the club at the time.

They have been heavily involved in the fundraising activities of the club and supporting Summer Surf Girl entrants with Paul being a key driver of the club’s successful Annual Charity Golf Day which started as a Surf Girl activity over 10 years ago.

As Life Members, Paul since 1991 and Ian since 1996, both brother’s have contributed many hours of extraordinary service to the club including Ian being Clubhouse Director back in the 70s, cooking meals for all the Brisbane based members staying at the club dormitory for weekend patrols.

Ian has also been a Bronze Trainer for the club and Patrol Captain while both have held many and varied committee and subcommittee positions including Joint Facility Committee, Summer Surf Girl Committee and Centenary Celebrations Committee amongst others.

Paul has been a Supporters Club committee member since 2005 and was made a Supporters Club Life Member in 2018.

Ian joined the Management Committee as Treasurer in 2011 and did the role for 8 years before he became President in 2019 which he continued in until 2023. He also ran the club’s Strategic Plan for many years and is now Deputy President of Sunshine Coast Branch.

As active patrolling members and with well over a few thousand hours of patrol between them, there’s no denying the passion and dedication to the Coolum Beach SLSC that these two club stalwart’s have shown over the last 50 years!