202325 Oct

“Making waves” achieves big “Wave” success in Queensland!

On Friday, 5 May, Making Waves Queensland took delivery of their latest program yacht, “The Tribe” (a Farr 40), which was trucked all the way from South Australia, with Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP, Julian Martin, CEO of Making Waves and Operations Manager Wendy Tuck, to celebrate the arrival.

The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly Brisbane will be home for the yacht and base camp for sailing programs for young people with disability and/or social disadvantages, which, if all the yacht modifications can be achieved in time, are planned to commence in July 2023.

An outstanding fund-raising event was held at the Squadron the same night, with over 200 people attending and a goal of raising $50,000 to assist in covering all the costs to get the yacht ready for service and set up the programs. To say the goal was exceeded is an under-statement, and the enormous generosity of all guests that night resulted in over $90,000!

“I am completely overwhelmed and extremely grateful to everyone who made this night, this result and the Making Waves program in Queensland such a great success,” said Making Waves CEO Julian Martin. “We are so proud of what has been established in other centres around Australia, but Brisbane is going to knock it out of the park!”

The fund-raising night included silent & live auctions, live entertainment, presentation from Sam Kekovich, and for many, it was the first time they had even heard about the programs being made available for young people as outlined above from our community to experience, learn and enjoy sailing.

Managing Director of Bartons Motor Group, Mark Beitz commanded everyone’s attention with his live auctioneering skills and added “I am just so proud to not only be a new member of the Squadron and owning my first boat, but for my wife Gaylene and I to be able to support this amazing initiative is just the best feeling I can imagine.”