Seven members from local sporting group the ‘Goldfields Paddlers’ recently represented the club at the 2023 Paddle Australia and Oceania Canoe Marathon and SUP on the Barwon River in Geelong, bringing home more than 20 medals between them.
One local family; the Creeds, has a long history of paddling, with mum Michelle, dad Raymond, son Thomas and nephew Tyler all actively involved in the sport and participating in the recent competition.
Thomas, 17, competed in nine races in this month’s event, with an impressive eight wins.
He has been paddling since he was eight years old and regularly uses a boat that his grandfather built and raced.
“If Pop was still around I think he’d be glad to have his boat in the races,” Thomas said.
Thomas is currently studying year 12 at Castlemaine Secondary College and volunteers with the Castlemaine SES. He is hoping to study Outdoor Education at Latrobe University in Bendigo next year.
His father Raymond Creed, who also began paddling with his father at eight years of age, developed a condition called spondylolisthesis and recently underwent two spinal fusion surgeries, which left him confined to a wheelchair for nine months. Doctors were unsure if he would ever get back in the water, but Raymond’s love of paddling and determination to push through the pain, had him back in the water four months ago and competing in events at this months competition.
His wife Michelle said his recovery had been long and slow.
“Seeing him back in a canoe and racing at nationals is a huge achievement,” Michelle said.
Raymond’s health concerns are not yet over as he awaits two further surgeries for his wrists, which are both severely arthritic and will need to be fused.
Despite these obstacles he remains determined to keep hitting the water with his wife and his son.
Visit the Facebook group Goldfields Paddlers for more information or to join.