NWSR Awards

Respect Award 2023
« In Memory of Bill Wallace

Peppie Simpson

Peppie has multiple Australian and State Titles to her name. She formed the Victorian Womens Surfing Association in 1978 and helped to form the Australian Womens Surfing Association to encourage, train and promote women’s surfing in Australia through the 70s and 80s. A business owner who works within the NWSR teaching and providing research about the beautiful mammals that pass by our waters every year, on her boat WhaleSongs Noosa.  Peppie is a long time member of the Noosa Malibu Club, plays a prominent role in coordinating the Wrecks and Relics competition every year and 10 +  NHSLSC Patrolling member. She works as a Surf Coach for Surfdancer Academy and assists in facilitating their indigenous and school programs. A lady who leads by example, contributes all she can to the NWSR community and inspires many others to do so.

Environmental Award 2023

Javier Leon

Javier is an academic at UniSC, undertakes research and teaches in and about the NWSR. As a member of Surfrider he volunteers in activities including beach clean-ups and education outreach. 
Javier leads innovative research with international impact directly related to the NWSR and the surf ecosystem. This includes:

• assessing turtle nest site selection along eastern beaches (2017),
• quantifying the impact of tropical cyclone Oma on Main Beach (2020),
• determining the influence of wave direction on sediment headland bypassing (2021)
• assessing coastal changes along Noosa during the triple back-to-back La Nina (2023)
• He is a contributor towards programs for managing pressing environmental issues including shark nets and Burgess Creek’s water quality
• Volunteers and works on translating science to the local community including giving talks for Coolum Coastcare, Peregian Beach Community Association, Peregian Beach Community Kindergarten, Surfriders Foundation, Noosa Biosphere, Noosa Council and Noosa Parks Association just to name a few.

Cultural Award 2023

Waves Of Wellness (WoW)

Wow is a mental health and surf therapy charity, promoting positive mental health and wellbeing through a range of innovative programs. In Noosa, they are running an 8-week program for young people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander with an aim to facilitate functional recovery, while promoting social inclusion, engagement and enhanced quality of life.
This Program is facilitated by mental health clinicians who are also trained in learn-to-surf instructing.
Each program is supported by volunteers, which strengthens inclusion and social connection. Thanks to the support of the Kelly Family Foundation, they have been able to run this program for free to participants, removing one of the most commonly reported barriers to accessing mental health.

Industry Innovation 2023

Golden Breed

Golden Breed have had an active positive presence in Noosa since 2000. An original long-time sponsor of the Noosa Festival of Surfing. Employed many long-time locals over their journey and promoted weekend casual work for local school kids wanting to get into and learn more about the industry.

Recently they have completed a spectacular old school building to stamp its commitment to the area. Designed to look like it belonged in Noosa 50+ years ago, or today.

Photography Award 2023

Justine Bath

Justine is an avid photographer of the beautiful and unique Noosa Surfing Reserve. Capturing images daily that portray the essence of the Noosa Surfing Community and sharing images with these surfers. Essentially documenting the beauty and wave quality of the NWSR for future generations.

Videography Award 2023

Lewis Van Roon

Lewis captures the beauty of Surfing with drone footage of the Noosa surfing reserve. Having a positive impact by showcasing its Beauty and specifically the Local Talent we have within the community and why we need to protect and preserve such a beautiful location.

Community Surfer Junior Male 2023

Landen Smales

This young man has lived & grown up in the Noosa Shire. Surfed some of his first  waves at Noosa’s First Point and can frequently be seen charging cyclone swells at the pot or longboarding through the points.
He has an excessive list of surfing accolades alone from this year from State to Australian Championships in both shortboard and longboarding titles
Selected to represent Surfing Queensland and is part of the Surfing QLD Academy. Landen is also a member of the First Nations Youth High Performance Program run by Surfing Australia. An advocate for young indigenous athletes and always passes on advice along with wetsuits to youth that need a bit of extra help in our community.
He is also often seen picking up rubbish and putting them in his pockets until after his surf & has also been involved in a number of beach cleans held during local events. As well as sharing the efforts of this preservation and respect for the environment amongst his peers.
Just recently both Landen and his brother Kaiden who is a well respected surfer also, were surfing Alexandria Bay and involved in the rescue of a near drowning of 3 people. Always willing to lend a hand.

Community Surfer Junior Female 2023

Larita Monroe

A member of the Noosa Malibu Club and member of the SBSHS Surfing Excellence program, Larita enjoys sharing the waves with a wonderful mix of local community surfers, respectfully and responsibly.
Her dedication has allowed her this year for the First time competing in a WSL event, state and national champs as a 15 year old.
Larita always projects a happy and fun image to the world when surfing in Noosa and stories like hers help to promote Noosa and the NWSR as a place to visit and protect. A great role model to the Noosa Malibu Club juniors.

Community Surfer Senior Male 2023

Max Pettigrove

Max has been a Noosa Council Lifeguard since 1985. In that time he has coached and taught a lot of the youth within the Noosa Community to be great happy people, good swimmers, surfers, body surfers and lifeguards today. Sunshine Beach Head of surf sports coach from 2001 – 2016, swimming coach at Noosa Aquatic Center since 1999 and SLS QLD Lifeguard trainer since 2017.
Ensuring our beaches are safe Max has always been a respected community member as well as assisting others to become proficient in the water and safer, more confident in a range of conditions.

Community Surfer Senior Female 2023

Kelly Carthy

Over the last decade this Kelly has developed relationships with various local water sports businesses and has also helped initiate community programs such as Waves of Wellness. She has had the privilege to coach some of the businesses in the water sports community to support them in professional development through her business The Inner Leader.
As a Leadership Coach, Kelly is an Educator and Retreat Facilitator passionate about connecting the water sports community with her clients to create unique transformational immersive experiences and support local industries.  Using the ocean as a base for cultivating confidence, building awareness and respect and encouraging a deeper connection with the preservation and conservation of the natural environment.
A Member of Sunshine Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, President of Peregian Kindy and Secretary of the Junior Activities Committee for Sunshine Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.

People’s Choice Award 2023

Luke Hutchinson

Also nominated for the Videographer award, Luke not only takes part in a number of events but also dedicates a significant amount of time to volunteer and capture the essence of this through photo and video. The best part about it is the raw commentary that accompanies many of our local crew shredding alongside candid interviews that show some insight into the life of these surfers.
By utilising his various social media platforms Luke creates a vibrant and inclusive community where people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds come together in an interactive way. This brings a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, enriching the overall atmosphere of our community.
By expanding their exposure, he helps support and promote local talent, fostering a sense of pride and appreciation within our community.

Respect Award 2022
« In Memory of Bill Wallace

Graham Endersby Eggy

Eggy has dedicated a considerable amount of time to his local Boardrider club, from past president to life member, technical adviser and head judge he plays every role. A coach and role model to some of Noosa’s best shortboarders, he puts time into creating good athletes and even better people. For the past 40 years Eggy has empowered a respectful nature in the kids he teaches. Respect for the environment and other people in the water to take turns and all out respect for everything and everyone around.
Thank you GRAHAM ENDERSBY for all the work you have done over the years in your roles and producing the next generation of brilliant young respectful surfers.

Environmental Award 2022

Amber Currie

Amber Currie has made an outstanding, positive difference to the natural environment of Noosa and the NWSR. A driver in her local club for sustainable practices and encourages others to participate and pay attention to environmental issues within the NWSR. Volunteering along with her whole family in beach clean ups for the NWSR, Plastic Free Noosa and Surfrider Foundation she helps to educate and proactively bring the community together at events all year round. Amber shared her enthusiasm for the preservation of the natural environment with the groms to lifelong surfers and helping to make a positive change for the future.

Cultural Award 2022

Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club (NHSLSC)

The Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club (NHSLSC) facilitates a program that brings ocean to country, educating school children about the surf and beach safety. This partnership program assists with bridging the gap for regional children who may never get the opportunity to safely visit or learn about the ocean and it’s environment. Run by staff and volunteers it helps these children to engage with and respect the ocean and its surrounding area to better preserve and protect this asset.

Industry Innovation 2022

Thomas Surfboards

A local shaper who builds craft that are tested and refined within the NWSR. Thomas Surfboards not only support surfers but also artists, craftsmen and Craftswomen from the local area associated with the reserve. Providing jobs and training for the next generation of surfboard builders they also provide funding and support for local film and photography projects to ensure the history of events within the NWSR is documented for generations to come. With a rider on their team who has just won the World Longboard Title for 2022 on a board developed in the area solidifying that the NWSR if a community to be reckoned with.

Photography Award 2022

Tracy Naughton

Tracy Naughton through photography captures the beauty, vitality and action of watersports in the NWSR. Sharing the stunning place from various angles she captures and inspires an appreciation for what we have and a want to protect it. She shoots and shares her images with a number of local surfers.

Videography Award 2022

Hunter Vercoe

Hunter grew up in Noosa surfing first point and the nearby breaks. His interest in videography was sparked by the NWSR.

Hunters video captures the surfers and characters that define the reserve and the natural beauty we are so lucky to call our home.

Community Surfer Junior Male 2022

Lennix Currie

Lennix is a young goofy footer who has had great results this year at the age of only 13, making it into the Semi Finals in the Open division of the Old Mal at this years NFOS up against some of longboardings finest. Alongside his surfing achievements, scoring a perfect 10 for a wave and winning events like the Evans Head Logger Heads he also has a sense of community involvement. This year wanting to make a difference by doing the Surf Aid Make a Wave challenge and raising $1939 for families in remote surfing areas in need. He assists in nearly all beach clean ups and volunteers with Plastic Free Noosa to help protect our oceans and acknowledges the importance of showing respect and setting a good example in the water.

Community Surfer Junior Female 2022

Mia Waite

Mia is a pleasure to be around in the water and enjoys the NWSR for her own sporting achievements and growth. She helps to share and educate visitors from our neighbouring states on the etiquette of the reserve and exemplifies the NWSR core values. Always removing rubbish from the beach on her way in and out of the water, Mia has outstanding community drive and sportsmanship. Acting as a great role model for our younger grommets who share the reserve.

Community Surfer Senior Male 2022

Glen Gower

Growing up in and around Noosa Glen has contributed to the Noosa Surfing community over many years. A Life Member of the Noosa Malibu Club, volunteer with the Noosa Festival of Surfing for 10 years, a 20 year volunteer with the Noosa Parks and more recently involved with numerous beach cleans with Surfrider, NFOS and Plastic Free Noosa. He promotes women and children in sport (essentially surfing) and has been instrumental in increasing Women and Junior surfers, firstly at NMC taking numbers from 3 and 1 surfers respectively in each division to a Club high of around 30+ Women and 40 odd Junior surfers. glen is a long time contest director volunteer for numerous events, his wife Darlene is always there involved and taking on a lot of the work with him.
With a number of competitive successes in longboarding over the past 10 years he has just on 30 event wins under his belt.

Community Surfer Senior Female 2022

GIA Lorentson

Gia is a competitive surfer who shares, inspires and promotes a safer respectful lineup by sharing her knowledge with the upcoming groms and acting as a role model within her local club and the wider NWSR community. A local lifeguard, she also gives her time to the Noosa Boardriders Club committee providing a female perspective and ensuring equality.

NWSR Respect Award 2021

Alan Thomas

Alan has been involved as a volunteer with the Noosa Malibu Club, Noosa Festival of Surfing since 2003 and Noosa Wrecks and Relics competition since 2005. He has played a huge part in developing a respectful culture in Noosa. From grass roots, support and education with the Noosa Malibu Club members to improve the next generation to value and respect the beautiful environment that we are so privileged to enjoy. Al also coaches and educates junior and senior referees at the Noosa District Basketball association on a voluntary position.

Environmental Award 2021

Surfrider Foundation

Surfrider, through activism, research and education within the local community helps protect our beaches and oceans. Their recent coordination of Clean Up Double Island saw 160 volunteers collect and database over 1 tonne of rubbish.

Cultural Award 2021

Dingira Warrai Program

Pioneering the fusion of indigenous dance and surfing in Noosa since 2004, Kristy Quirk has connections with Kabi Kabi people from the Tewantin area. Gubbi Gubbi Dance leader Lyndon Davis and Kristy, with the Dingira Warrai Surfdance Program, enabled a cultural exchange to help encourage self-determination of indigenous students from various Noosa schools – a cultural exchange that will filter through the surfing community of Noosa and beyond for generations to come. The programme encourages students to take care of the land and sea as they are one.

Industry Innovation 2021

Campbell Designs

A core member of the Noosa Boardriders Club after moving here in 1980, Stuart established Water Pistol surfboards and sponsored much of the local talent which has continued to the present day with Campbell Designed. In 2020 they launched their patented Exo Flex technology which enhances the flex properties of the board. Their technology is drawing global attention with applications in high performance surfing.

Photography Award 2021

Fenna De King

One of Noosa’s most talented amateur surf photographers has contributed not only to the social media profiles of our most talented young surfers, but to the general good of the surfing community through featuring environmental and sustainability themes throughout their output.

Videography Award 2021

Wilzen Crawford

Surfing from a young age and attending the Sunshine Beach Excellence in Surfing Program, Wilzen has spent the last 6 years working with top end surfers in Noosa, gaining relationships and trust in the community with filmmaking and cinematography. He is able to capture the natural beauty and surfing culture, showcasing the beauty of the NWSR.

Community Surfer Junior Male Award 2021

Mad Froth

The boys were keen to draw awareness to these social issues and support this charity when they understood that it was kids just like them living without a home or family around to care for them. The boys went out to the Youturn Youth Support office in Tewantin to personally donate the special run of Team Mad Froth t-shirts for their online shop. YouTurn will sell these shirts and use the proceeds to continue to support vulnerable kids and families. The boys had the opportunity to meet the wonderful people who run the charity and learn all about the work they do.They also helped to raise money for Surfaid Billabong Make A Wave in September. Raising $4.2k for charity. All of these groms have shown a willingness to share, respect and preserve our surfing assets, and honour all who came before.

Community Surfer Junior Female Award 2021

Lucy Bowen

A member of both Noosa Boardriders and Noosa Malibu Club for the last 6 years, Lucy has regularly represented both clubs in interclub, regional, state and national events. Lucy has also helped to raise money for Surfrider Foundation by helping to clean boards at the local surf shop. Captain of Surfing at St Andrews Anglican College where her aim is to encourage girls to surf, to enjoy and respect Noosa as much as she does. She believes that Noosa surfers are respected not only by their skill but more importantly for their attitude in and out of the water.

Community Surfer Senior Male Award 2021

Jack Lewis

Noosa SLSC Boardriding Captain, Australian Silver medalist and QLD Champion SLSA Titles as well as a member of Noosa Boardriders club member since 2013. Jack runs the Cherbourg to Noosa Program which is in its 4th year and welcomes the kids and their families of inland aboriginal communities to feel welcome to this special place we call home by the ocean. Jack helps to share with them surf safety and wave riding skills. Volunteers his time as the under 8 age manager for Noosa SLSC Nippers Program which has one of the largest nipper groups in the country (600 nippers). Those volunteers pass on their ocean skills and help carry on the culture and environmental stewardship.

Community Surfer Senior Male Award 2021

Paul Peterson

President of the Noosa Boardriders Club for the past 6 years and has 4 sons who surf within the NWSR. Paul assists the St Andrews Anglican College school Surfing Program as well as the Sunshine Coast Interschool District and Regional competitions for the last 6 years. Helps to develop junior surfing and sponsorship opportunities for up and coming surfers. Attends Surfing Queensland meetings to ensure Sunshine Coast surfers stay on the radar. Paul helps to create a cohesive surfing community that links the younger generation of surfers with long term local surfers to benefit the NWSR and ensure these principles and ethos carry through to the next generation of surfers in the area.

Community Surfer Senior Female Award 2021

Mason Schremmer

A member of Noosa Malibu Club and been competing in Noosa since she was 16, all the way from Hawaii. Involved with the Surfrider Foundation here on the coast she has helped them to organise beach clean ups to preserve and protect the community around Noosa and the Sunshine Coast. A great longboard competitor with good results at the Noosa Festival of Surfing and Noosa Logger.Her work with Surfrider Foundation brings greater community awareness to protecting our oceans, beaches and land.