Riviera Syndication News May 2011

Her grandfather was a sailor, her father built high performance engines for boats and her whole family raced power boats so it is little wonder Sharon Russell has succeeded in the male dominated marine industry.

As the other half of Riviera Syndication, Sharon was recently re-elected as president of Marine Queensland for the second consecutive year.  Marine Queensland is a non-profit association representing recreational and light commercial boating.

Sharon has also been invited to the Women on Water Lunch, which is an invitation only event where the MC will interview prominent women in the marine industry, including Sharon.  The Women on Water Lunch will be held on May 20 during the 2011 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

Sharon will join two other exceptional women, Carla Demaria and Adrienne Cahalan as guest speakers at the lunch, which celebrates Women on Water.  Monte Carlo Yachts S.p.A president Carla Demaria founded Monte Carlo Yachts S.p.A, one of the biggest yacht companies in Italy and is highly regarded in the marine industry.  Adrienne Cahalan is known as the fastest woman on water.  She navigated Wild Oats, the maxi yacht famous for being multiple winner of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and she has completed three round the world yacht races.

Sharon says she is in awe of these amazing women.

“They are such an inspiration to me and many other women in the marine industry and I am honoured to have been invited to join them at the Ladies Lunch,” Sharon said.

However, her most important accomplishment is being elected President of Marine Queensland.

“To have the respect of my peers and to be able to teach women including my four daughters how to be competent skippers is my most significant achievement,” she said.

“Marine Queensland and other governing bodies have recognised that boating skills are being lost so I am focused on ensuring these essential skills continue to be passed on to our children.

“This year as part of an initiative of Marine Queensland we are going back to basics where people can come along and learn how to fish and boat safely.”

Growing up Sharon loved nothing more than to watch her father build high performance race engines and she spent most of her time at race and ski meetings.  She also spent many days fishing, prawning and crabbing with her grandfather, Harold Butcher.

When Sharon turned 17 she got her boat licence and started racing power boats.  She has raced in the New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Outboard Championships.

“This is what I love to do.  I think it’s the relaxation and the feeling of freedom and adventure.  I can go out on the boat, just for a day, and feel like I have had a holiday,” she said.

“I was elected to the Marine Queensland board about six years ago because I wanted to give back to the industry.”

Sharon has certainly given a lot to the marine industry and with her husband, John, the pair operate one of the most successful Syndicated boat ownership programs in Australia, Riviera Syndication.

John and Sharon Russell and their Riviera Syndication team have more than 30 years experience in the Marine Industry and 12 years in specialising in Syndication.  They have the passion, the experience and the resources to guarantee your experience with Riviera Syndication.  No other syndication company can claim these invaluable attributes.