20/09/2026
Whenever I sell or give someone a ball at an Cairns Active Living Program beach volleyball clinic. I remind them to get a permanent marker and put their name and phone number on it, the idea being that if the ball disappears, maybe you might get it back.
Here's the best get it back story I've encountered here:
About six weeks ago one of the regular locals that I sold a ball to came and told me he'd lost his ball, some exuberant backpacker had tried to do a kick save, the ball flies out into the water by the courts and floats away quickly with the prevailing trade winds pushing it north and west.. gone forever right?
Last week the person that lost the ball came to me and showed me a picture of his ball. Someone camping at Cape Bedford (north of Cooktown, way up thataway) had found his ball washed up on the beach, and called him to say they'd be returning the ball to him when they pass through Cairns.
Cape Bedford is a loooong way from Cairns, 175km as the crow flies, and if you've ever driven there, by 4wd it seems way further away than that.
It's credit to Wilson Volleyball that it seems they've incorporated anti-barnacle properties into their very durable ball, it looks none the worse for wear over it's four week journey.
I still do have Wilson OPTX beach volleyballs for sale, and I'll still remind every purchaser to put their name and phone number on the ball. Now I have a great story to tell to demonstrate why that's important.
