Club: Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club Inc.
Location: Boreen Point, Queensland
Contact: Paul Armstrong / paularmstrong@optusnet.com.au
About the project
Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club used its Sail Our Way funding to help more women build the practical skills and confidence needed to volunteer at sailing events.
Across July and August 2026, the club delivered three training courses for existing and potential volunteers:
- Powerboat Handling Practical – 11 July 2026
- Powerboat Safety Boat Operator – 25 July 2026
- First Aid and CPR – 1 August 2026
Women were specifically encouraged to take part, helping create a stronger pathway into volunteer roles supporting sailing activities at the club.
Participation
Across the three courses, there were:
· 25 attendances across 3 courses
The training was also opened to participants from other clubs and non-members, extending the opportunity beyond Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club’s existing membership.
Outcomes and impact
The project helped participants develop practical skills that can be applied directly to volunteer roles throughout the sailing season.
Importantly, all of the women who attended said they intended to volunteer more often in the future, strengthening the club’s pool of skilled female volunteers.
How the funding helped
Sail Our Way funding enabled women to attend the training free of charge, removing a potential barrier to participation and helping increase attendance.
The funding also allowed the club to open the courses to people from other sailing clubs and to non-members, increasing the reach and impact of the training.
Lessons learned
The club originally proposed a broader project but found the scope was too ambitious for the funding available and sought approval to scale it down.
Reflecting on the project, the club identified that setting a more realistic scope from the outset would have made planning and delivery easier. The revised approach nevertheless allowed the club to focus its funding on practical training with a clear and ongoing benefit for women and volunteers at the club.
