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The AOCRA committee received this email from Peter Bray (Burrum Heads OCC) regarding one of their junior paddlers. AOCRA will be getting the ball rolling by donating $1000 to the family. Donations have also been pledged by our outrigger family:-
Any clubs or zones who feel that they would like to contribute can do so by 3 ways:-
1. Email the AOCRA Treasurer (treasurer@aocra.com.au) and give AOCRA authority to direct debit an amount from your bank account to be onforwarded in full.
2. Email Peter Bray pljrbray@bigpond.com or phone him on 0409 614 030 to arrange payment
3. Direct deposit the funds with a reference of MATT RANDALL to the Burrum Heads OCC bank account at Westpac BSB 034136 Acc 169388.
EMAIL FROM PETER:
Hi Pam,
I am writing to you to explain the plight of Matt Randall, a thirteen year old Burrum Heads junior outrigger who at this very moment requires all the support we can muster.
On the 30th of January this year Matt competed at the Kawana oc6 sprints and won silver in both the 500 and 1000 meter races after which he didn't look well, so he had a lay down and quickly recovered as kids mostly do, on the trip home he was fine and he showed off his good sense of humour. ( always a pleasure to travel with. )
The following Wednesday he attended training and again on Saturday the 6th of February, when we only allowed him to steer because he wasn't feeling well.
The following week Matt fell ill at school and taken to
Matt remained in
Matt's heart has since failed completely and he is now being kept alive on an artificial heart, his only chance of survival is a heart transplant.
A perfectly healthy boy reduced to this in matter of weeks, almost impossible to comprehend.
The Randall family consists of Matt, his two older brothers Jack and Tom and little sister Jess they are supported by their hard working mother Shirley.
Shirley is a very special mum who is currently at her sons bedside in
Our little community of Burrum Heads is doing what it can for the Randall family in their hour of need by trying to maintain normality in the house hold for the children, there is a roster of people preparing meals, doing house work and getting the kids to school etc.
There is a mortgage to pay and the bills keep coming in, donation buckets have been placed in businesses through out the town and raffles are being held to help ease Shirley's burden.
Last Sunday the local pub ran a raffle to support Matt with $50 as first prize, when it was drawn the winner refused to collect the money so it was used for another raffle, same thing happened and continued to do so for the rest of the day, the $50 still hasn't been collected and will be used again next week end. Stories you only hear about in a small town and a fair indication of what high esteem this family is held in.
When Julie and I started juniors at Burrum Heads just over 12 months ago Matt Randall was the first boy to join, struggling to make a complete crew we asked Matt to start recruiting.
Being a popular kid at school and home Matt excelled and in no time we had around thirty juniors largely due to Matt's efforts.
Now the parents of some of these children are paddling, in our opinion Matt has promoted our sport more than most adults do in their paddling life time.
It is for these reasons we don't feel awkward asking AOCRA for support, we need to be in this for the long haul and will accept help of any kind.
I realize AOCRA doesn't normally support charities and understand why, but I am hoping there may be an exemption here due to this unusual tragedy that has been thrown on to a little boy and his family who least deserve it.
If financial assistance is not available a little moral support in the form of a gift recognizing Matt's contributions to outrigging would go a long way.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Bray.
We have been advised that Matt is now out of the coma, and whilst he still has pneumonia and peritonitis, the doctors are confident he is progressing well. He is apparently giving cheek to the hospital staff - so that's also a good sign!!
Congratulations to all those teams who travelled to compete at the National Sprint Titles held on the Gold Coast recently, and also to our champion club - Coffs Coast OCC. It also saw the launch of our fleet of OC2 canoes, purchased with the help of a substantial grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
Planning for the 2010 OC6 National Marathon Titles is well underway. Keep checking the National Titles Page OC6 National Marathon Titles and www.mooloolabaoutriggers.com for the most recent updates as they come in. There are accommodation discounts currently on offer. It will be the school holidays, so book early!
The second round of selection for the National Teams to represent Australia in the 2010 'Molokai Hoe" and "Na Wahine O Ke Kai" will also take place at this event.
The selection committee is Mike Mills Thom and Pam Prescott combined with Lisa Curry as coach for the Open Women and Peter Dorries as coach for the Open Men.
A training camp for all who have qualified for the National squad will be held immediately after the OC6 National Marathon Titles.
Thank you to National Vice President Stewart Hayes for his work on the AOCRA submission to NSW Maritime on the proposed PFD changes in NSW.
AOCRA prides itself on its safety record and Risk Management strategies and we urge all zones and clubs to keep on top of Risk Management and paddler safety.
Enjoy your paddling and stay safe in our oceans and waterways.
