Sunset ‘Flat-rock’ Mollymook Beach

Overcast conditions and cold currents don’t deter the ocean swimmers

Christmas joy and celebration – drinking responsibly

Alien sighted on Mollymook Beach rock platform

Mollymook

– ‘Mountain to the Sea’ – Marathon 2014

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42 kilometre Marathon Course

The course begins at the foot of Pigeon House mountain. The 1st leg is a 5 km hike to the summit of Pigeon House Mtn. and return. The 2nd leg comprises a 25 km bike ride from Pigeon House Mtn. to Burrill Lake. The 3rd leg a 5 km paddle on a Stand Up Paddle board (SUP) across the lake and up the backwaters to Cupitt’s vineyard. This is followed by a 4th leg, 6 km run to North Mollymook Beach, then the 5th leg is a 2 km swim to South Mollymook completing this leg on a wave riding body board.

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The Event

It’s a social event whereby contestants can do the entire marathon or just a few selected legs of the marathon. It has been made possible by the vision of two boys Harm and Jonathon Schaap helped by their dad Ice in aid of raising funds for Turia Pitt’s charity ‘Interplast’.

Check their “Mountain to Sea” marathon on Facebook.

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Sponsors

Remember to support the sponsors who make so many events possible: Tallwood Restaurant, Board Lounge, Cupitt’s Restaurant and Winery, M & J Green Builders, La valle Fisheries, Kristy’s fitness and well being, AKWA surf, Surf House Narrawallee, Office National, Tucker R/E, DDe-signtech, Coastal Paddle Surf.

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers

The Ocean swim group were represented at this full day testing event by Bobby White our elder stateman, Simone Scott and children Chloe & Jamie with dad Rob in the support crew. Cheryl and daughter Mia. John and Tracy’s daughter Melissa.

Christmas greetings from Vietnam.

Having a great time in Vietnam, its a wonderful place. Very lively and noisy. Its chaos when I’m on a motor bike as they drive on the wrong side and I forget to look the other way but they swerve well and don’t drive as fast as us. Lots of people getting around on the backs of motorbikes.

Vietnam war memorials

Been doing a lot of revisiting of the Vietnam war remembering Apocalypse Now, ” Love the smell of napalm in the morning” and Platoon. I’ve visited the Cu Chi tunnels where the Vietcong staged their final assault to take Saigon. I could fit easily into those tunnels. (Ken you’d have to do a bit more running) Ho Chi Minh is the main man here. Beat off the French then the Americans. Fairly depressing visiting the War Remnants museum. Remnants of place, weaponry and people, however I have seen some great cat traps I could use in my own back yard!

Ocean / river swimming in Vietnam

Haven’t seen anywhere to swim as yet. The Mekong looks like Beach Hut coffee and is about as inviting. Well I’ve now moved to Da Lat, it’s up in the hills away from the smog and noise where they grow lots of flowers and strawberries.  (PS. John. If I win a trophy at the swimmers Christmas party can you look after it for me?) Craig.

Mercy Ships Australia TV coverage

Channel 7

Sunday Night program 7pm, 14th December Channel 7 (that’s this Sunday night) and then available online at ‘Plus7’.

Channel SBS

Sunday 21st December 8:30pm on both Channel SBS One and Channel SBS HD, and then available online at ‘SBS On Demand’. This will be the ‘new’ 54min (longer) version of ‘The Surgery Ship’ documentary..

Please tell your friends

This coverage provides a wonderful opportunity to lift Mercy Ships’ profile in Australia. It would be greatly appreciated if you are able to support our efforts by forwarding this advice to your contact list, with a recommendation that the recipients forward to their contacts.

Promo video

The 30 second promo video for the Channel 7 episode of Sunday Night can be watched on this YouTube link.

World’s largest independent floating hospital to feature on Seven’s ‘Sunday Night’

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Along the coast of Africa, a long way from Australia, there is a desperate need for medical help. Here, a state-of-the-art floating hospital. On board, a team of dedicated Australians transforming lives – free of charge.

This is the basis of a story featuring on Sunday Night on Channel 7 at 7.00pm on December 14.

Filmed on location in the Republic of the Congo, the story centres on the work of the world’s largest independent hospital ship, Africa Mercy, during its 10 months docked in the Central African nation performing surgeries for conditions often not seen in the West.

“The only difference between me and the patients is the fact that I was born in Australia,” observes Rinnah Fry, a paediatric nurse from Bundaberg who has volunteered three times with Mercy Ships, the international charity that operates the Africa Mercy. Rinnah is one of the many Australian medical personnel who make up more than 450 volunteers staffing the Africa Mercy.