COOCHIEMUDLO Island might be small but it has chalked up a big win.
Coochiemudlo Island Surf Lifesaving Club member Chloe McGrath has been named the Summer Surf Girl competition’s most innovative entrant and overall runner-up at a gala dinner.
The 21-year-old, from Redland Bay, patrols Coochiemudlo Island’s sandy shores as part of one of Australia’s smallest surf clubs.
While she hauled in prizes including a three-night getaway, hampers and vouchers, the biggest winner was Coochie’s surf life saving club.
Chloe, who was the island’s second entrant in the competition’s 54-year history, raised $18,000 for the club which will go towards rescue equipment, training and maintenance.
The 2018 Summer Surf Girl competition has ended but Chloe’s work to boost the club’s profile and help other life saving organisations continues.
She said the red and yellow dinner she set up as a club fundraiser would be hosted again next year, with plans to make the Raby Bay emergency services fun day bigger and better.
“I’d love to be able to expand the emergency services fun day and approach local and sate government to see how this could be taken further,” she said.
Chloe, who competed alongside Point Lookout Surf Life Saving Club entrant Samantha Lavery and nine other contestants, said she was thrilled at her Summer Surf Girl wins.
“It was the biggest surprise ever but an absolute honour,” she said.
Surf Life Saving Queensland’s chief operating officer George Hill said he was impressed with this year's entrants.
“These passionate young lifesavers are the future leaders of our organisation and what they have achieved over the past year is just incredible,” he said.
“I take my hat off to them. They should be extremely proud of their efforts and the real impact they have made in their communities.”
