{"id":128798,"date":"2026-03-26T04:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T17:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/?p=128798"},"modified":"2026-03-25T15:48:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T04:48:55","slug":"record-crowd-backs-longest-lunch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/news\/record-crowd-backs-longest-lunch\/","title":{"rendered":"Record crowd backs Longest Lunch"},"content":{"rendered":"

A record-breaking number of guests were treated to an afternoon of dining, local stories and community at Geelong’s Longest Lunch.<\/p>\n

The annual event drew a crowd of 300 guests, raising more than $70,000 to support the Barwon Health Foundation.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Barwon Health Foundation board members Roxie Bennett, Rory Costelloe, executive director Zoe Waters, Catherine Middlemiss and Ray Frost. Photo: Caitlin Locke.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Local nurse Kathyrn Johns delivered one of the event’s most powerful moments, sharing her personal experience of surviving two heart attacks before turning 40.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on both her role as a nurse and a patient, she described Barwon Health’s key role in saving her life.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Event MC Simon Toohey and guest speaker Kathryn Johns. Photo: Monika Berry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The dining experience was another highlight, with a four-course menu paired local wines and created by 12 of the region’s best chefs.<\/p>\n

A live auction generated more than $30,000 for the cause.<\/p>\n

Barwon Health Foundation executive director Zoe Waters said the event continues to play an important role in supporting local healthcare.<\/p>\n

“Geelong’s Longest Lunch is not just about coming together over great food, it directly supports the work of Barwon Health,” she said.<\/p>\n

“The funds raised help provide vital equipment, support clinical trials and improve comfort for patients. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who makes it happen each year.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A record-breaking number of guests were treated to an afternoon of dining, local stories and community at Geelong’s Longest Lunch. The annual event drew a crowd of 300 guests, raising more than $70,000 to support the Barwon Health Foundation. Local nurse Kathyrn Johns delivered one of the event’s most powerful moments, sharing her personal experience […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":201,"featured_media":128802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-128798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRecord crowd backs Longest Lunch - Geelong Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Geelong's Longest Lunch raises over $70,000 for the Barwon Health Foundation. 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