Surfing Swan drops in on local surf club
Federal Treasurer the Hon Wayne Swan MP has accepted an invitation to be the Foundation Patron of the newly-formed Cribb Island Boardriders Club.
Club President Rob Mactaggart said the Treasurer was the perfect choice for the ceremonial role of Patron, as Mr Swan personified the values and objectives of the Club, which was established in the Treasurer’s Federal seat of Lilley on Brisbane’s northside.
The Cribb Island Boardriders was established by staff at Brisbane Airport, honouring the former township of Cribb Island, which was relocated to make way for the Airport in the 1980s. While predominantly made up of workers from the Airport and related industries, the Club is open to all members of the local community, and features surf competitions, learn-to-surf programs, ski trips, social events and Clean-Up Cribb Island days.
“The club was established to promote healthy, family-oriented fun and environmental awareness, revolving around water and snow sports, and so far we have been blown away by the enthusiastic response of the airport community and beyond,” Rob Mactaggart said.
“Like the Airport itself, Cribb Island is located in the Treasurer’s seat, so when we read his regret at not having enough time to surf, we just had to invite him to be our patron and we were stoked when he said yes.
“Surfing is a great way to relax, refocus and re-energise, and hopefully, the role will give the Treasurer an excuse to get into the water at one of our regular weekend contests. But we just look forward to him helping us promote a healthy outdoor lifestyle in the community, and to looking after the environment at this important part of Moreton Bay.”
Mr Mactaggart said part of the Treasurer’s largely ceremonial duties would be to fiercely guard the secrecy surrounding the location of the fabled Cribb Island right-hand break, which is rumoured to work in cyclonic conditions only once every five years.
For his part, Mr Swan said: “I am delighted to be the inaugural Patron for the Cribb Island Boardriders Club as two of most important things for my family are the local community and catching a few waves.”