Election swell: Asher to “fight hard” for Torquay SLSC funding

LIBERAL candidate for Corangamite Stephanie Asher says she will be “fighting very hard” ahead of the federal election to find the funds to support the Torquay SLSC’s long-awaited redevelopment of their clubrooms.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson and Ms Asher held an afternoon tea at the clubrooms overlooking Torquay’s surf beach.

Mr Morrison said surf clubs were one of the great community institutions of Australia.

“One of the things I love about coming to surf clubs is I love looking up at these honour boards, I love looking up at the old gear – it just speaks to the heritage of a community, because these clubs have always come out of community and they’ve drawn people from all walks of life.”

He spent about 10 minutes speaking with Torquay SLSC president Tiffany Quinlan and club captain Julian Sweeney about a range of topics, including the club’s plans to update and replace its clubhouse, which has served the community for more than 70 years but is no longer fit for purpose.

“We talked about the surf club, the prevention of drowning, conditions at the beach, the ability for us to create a community atmosphere and our need for funding, going forward,” Ms Quinlan said.

“He was very receptive. He sees the surf clubs as very much part of the culture, particularly of this town, and he said he’d look into it.”

Ms Quinlan said the club had to take every opportunity to lobby for funding, particularly with an election coming, had costed the redevelopment, and would be sending more information to Senator Henderson, at her request, in the next few days.

“I will be fighting very hard to help fund the Torquay SLSC as we all know what an iconic club it is, responsible for safety on a world famous and very popular beach,” Ms Asher said in response to questions from this newspaper.

“I met with Tiffany Quinlan a month ago and received a full briefing and took away a 3D printed model of the proposed new clubhouse, along with the information booklet.

“I anticipate meeting with the club president again in the near future and I will certainly be putting the case forward for an appropriate amount of funding for the new building.”

Speaking to the crowd before the Prime Minister’s arrival, Ms Asher said she would be “working incredibly hard over the next few months”.

“I wish I knew exactly how many months, so I knew if it’s going to be a sprint or a marathon,” she said – a reference to the yet-unknown date of the 2022 election – which prompted Senator Henderson to say the first or second weekend of May would be her tip.

The event drew a crowd of about 60 people, including representatives of sporting and service clubs from across Corangamite, and prominent Liberal supporters such as former City of Greater Geelong councillor and mayor Srechko “Stretch” Kontelj and former Liberal member for South Barwon Andrew Katos.