Mick joined MYC in 1999 as a senior member and owner of Northern Light a North Shore 27 his pride and joy. In 2004 Colin Smith started a Sailability Program then known as the Dolphin Program commencing as a mid week sailing program catering for care centres and private clients.
It was not long after that Mick joined with Joe Karam helping with the program, in the early days 2.3 Access dinghys were supplied by Yachting Victoria through their mobile Sailability unit. For the program to grow it was obvious that the club needed to own its own fleet and Mick came to the fore. With Micks association with Mt Eliza Lions fund raising commenced.
Several successful fund raising functions were run at MYC and soon we started to build our fleet, this today stands at;
7. 3.03 Hansa Dinghys 2. Liberty Dinghys 1. 2.3 electric Hansa Dinghy
In 2019 through Micks fund raising efforts Sailability purchased a new power craft used to ferry clients around the harbour and to act as a rescue boat. Also in 2019 Mick coordinated the replacement of the wheel chair access ramp to Maas Landing, a significant program and an opportunity to have closer ties with MPSC who funded 50% of the replacement cost.
More recently the club lift was identified by the committee to be replaced. Sailability endorsed this program and appointed Mick to take charge of fund raising, our aim to raise $10000.00. With Micks involvement this goal was not only achieved but doubled to a total of $21000.00
Mick is today an important member of our Sailability committee and continues to volunteer with the Wednesday program operating the JK power boat so named after Joe Karam who is his crew.
No doubt Mick is a very worthy recipient of this award.
Regards,
Commodore Greg Martin