Committee for Lorne – A word from the Chairman

Happy Easter! And what a big weekend it’s going to be with so much on and so many different things to do in and around town.

But then again, the past week has been just as hectic. There is the continuing theme of activities, although foreign to some, which is ingrained into those who call Lorne home, full or part time, and it is on show wherever you look.

Unfortunately, due to work commitments I was unable to get the Men’s Shed Regatta on the Erskine River last Sunday and the closest I could manage was a “drive by” with clients at my side. Apart from the excellent crowd in attendance and the river “looking alive” with sleek looking beautifully crafted T37 boats, there was also something else that took my attention.

I noticed the Lorne Surf Club “rubber ducky” sitting at the top of the course, on hand to address any situation around safety or assistance with boat retrieval.

Volunteers from one local club lending a helping hand to another local Club – Gold!

Then I looked closer and identified the two enormous frames and smiling faces of those volunteers in the Rubber Bucky.

Nothing less than the current President of the Surf Club, Paul McMaster and past President, Kevin Van Dueren “on duty” for the Men’s Shed. Only the day before, Paul and Kev were both “sleeves up” at the local football as Lorne hosted the clash for coastal cup against Apollo Bay. They are like so many other Lorne volunteers; “giving back” is such a strong part of the unique fabric that is Lorne.

Although not in attendance it didn’t take long for the Regatta results to infiltrate all corners of the town and I love the way the messages unfolded. By the time the news reached me it went like this. “After an all but scratchy pathway through the heats, where it appeared Doug Williams and his ocean-based sailing skills would see him “clean sweep” the regatta a boilover (or something similar) was looming.

The word, I received was that the T37, beautifully built by local Architect Bob Sinclair was skippered to victory by Architectural colleague Graham Brawn who, at the last minute was called to the helm as Bob and a bad case of gastro which had forced him to retreat to another venue.

In a drama filled day, the other news that filtered from the river was that the power boat section was to see only two boats on the starting line.

Whispers had spread that the event was a lay down misère as the “best, biggest and fastest” strategy of our Men’s Shed President had all but guaranteed the Silverware gracing his trophy cabinet. It was so nearly so, according to my source.

That was until, at break neck speed, the President’s power boat went into an uncontrolled vertical ascent only to lay
motionless staring at the bottom of the river as the gently, gently, slowly, slowly approach of Chris Tutungi saw him do what Stephen Bradbury had once done before!

Congratulations to Tony Wolfenden and the Men’s Shed team for a wonderful event.

Ian Stewart
Chairman – Committee for Lorne