Two former Urunga locals who attended Urunga Public School and are currently serving in the Defence Force, Sergeant Nicholas Matthews and Major Brenden Matthews will participate in Gallipoli 100 Surf Boat Race on April 23-24.
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Both Nicholas and Brenden served in Afghanistan and are former Urunga Surf Lifesaving Members. Nicholas and Brenden will be joined by six Defence Force personnel, their father Graham (former Urunga SLSC member) and current Urunga SLSC Vice-President Tony Shields on this expedition. Urunga SLSC has donated an old surfboat for this challenge. The team will work in shifts to cover the distance with four members rowing and Tony Shields performing the sweep’s duties at any one point in time. The boys have spent many hours preparing the boat, giving it a new coat of paint, maintaining its serviceability and attaching sponsors’ logos.
Surf Lifesaving Australia is involved in this activity and their planning has been in progress over the past five years. The purpose of the surfboat race is just one of many activities scheduled in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Australia’s involvement in World War I and to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of Australians throughout this conflict, the Gallipoli 100 Surfboat race will be held along the Gallipoli Peninsular. 100 crews from three nations (Australia, New Zealand and Turkey) will participate in the race, which will span 100 km (now reduced to 53km because of safety concerns) from the Dardanelles to the beach at Gaba Tepe, south of Anzac Cove. The aim of this activity is to commemorate the ANZAC landings and reflect on the sacrifices made by Australian soldiers.
Nicholas was also the initiator of the Matthew Locke Charity Rugby League match between Bellingen Magpies and the Australian Defence Force Rugby League teams played annually in Bellingen at the commencement of the rugby league season.
Urunga SLSC takes pride in its involvement in this commemoration and the part Surf Lifesavers have played in conflicts of war. We wish our locals and their team all the best as they take on this daunting challenge.
The Rising Suns Surf Boat team aims to raise $150,000 to be donated to their chosen charities and not-for-profit organisations such as Soldier On, Legacy and the Urunga Surf Life Saving Club.
Donations to Soldier On can be made at: https://soldieron.giveeasy.org/campaigns/gallipoli-100-surf-boat-race/
Lawrie Renshall