from left is Graeme Boyle (KBSC President), Carole Gifford, Paul Effeney (KBSC Commodore) and Bob Burrowes (Club Patron).

Carole Gifford Receives Yachting Queensland Award

Carole has been voluntarily assisting with the Keppel Bay Sailing Club’s junior sailing programs for approximately 15 years.  Currently, Carole is one of the instructors training the Novice Sabot Squad. 

As part of this commitment, Carole is responsible for teaching new junior sailors the sport’s basic fundamentals.  The Novice Sabot Squad attends training sessions on Friday afternoons and Sunday mornings.  Carole has a wonderful relationship with the squad members, who always seem eager to learn from her. 

In previous years, Carole also assisted with the Club’s learn to sail programs, but in a different format.  At that time, the learn to sail classes consisted of an extensive weekend of training, rather than a twelve month squad training program. 

Carole is a very caring person, who always has the children’s best interests at heart.  Carole always gives 150% and is very dedicated to both the sport of sailing and her students.   

In addition to her involvement with the Club’s junior members, Carole is also an elected member of the Club’s sailing and social committees.  The sailing committee is responsible for the operations of the sport of sailing both at club level and for major regattas, while the social committee co-ordinate social activities for the sailing members.  Carole has been a member of the sailing committee for several years and attends meetings on a regular basis. 

Carole is a qualified dinghy instructor and race management officer.  She is also an active rescue boat operator, assisting with on-water duties for club racing and major regattas.  

Carole learnt to sail at the Keppel Bay Sailing Club approximately 20 years ago when her daughter enrolled in a learn to sail class.  Carole then began sailing regularly in Tasars and Corsairs, before competing in the World Tasar Titles held at Keppel Bay in 1988.  It was shortly after this, that she began assisting with the Club’s learn to sail program. 

Carole also assisted Keith Stover, another of the Club’s dedicated sailing members, establish the Satellite Sail Training School.  Carole was also involved with the local branch of Sailability, whose aim was to make sailing available to people with disabilities.

To compliment her involvement with the Keppel Bay Sailing Club, Carole is also a member of the Capricornia Cruising Yacht Club.  At the CCYC, Carole is an active sailor, who volunteers her time to assist with various club activities. 

In a professional sense, Carole’s caring nature has created a successful career.  Carole is employed by the Department of Education as a Special Needs Teacher.  Carole regularly “goes beyond the call of duty” to assist students with complex problems to the best of her ability.  Carole believes in self-training, buying books and undertaking private research to continually improve her teaching skills – skills that have been a valuable asset when sharing her love for sailing with the Keppel Bay Sailing Club’s junior members.   

Susan Freestone

Sailing Administration Officer

Keppel Bay Sailing Club Inc

PO Box 32

YEPPOON QLD 4703

Phone: (07) 4939 9542

Email: sailing@kbsc.com.au