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Committee for Lorne – A word from the Chairman

July 17, 2019 BY

The organisers of the Great Ocean Road Running Festival have shared their post event report which makes for very interesting reading. This year, there were 8,250 registrants which was 8% up on last year and their biggest yet.

Of these, 54% were female and 46% were male, 77% of participants were new to the event in 2019 and 256 were international registrants.

Not surprisingly, the most popular event was the half marathon with 3,645 competitors and the least popular the ultra-marathon with 106 competitors. Interestingly, 17% of competitors travelled in a group of five or more and 52% held a “Professional” occupation as opposed to 24% of Australia’s general population and 31% of participants ate at local restaurants – a great event for our coast!

The Lorne Football and Netball Club is on track for another stellar year with four of five football sides all poised to play a major part in finals action with the fifth side fighting hard to secure their place. It’s been another great year for the club both on and off the field and 2019 has all the hallmarks to be another milestone year.

Excitement has also been building around the commencement of the re-development of Stribling Reserve having been ignited by the unveiling of what has to be one of the most impressive electronic scoreboards outside of AFL arenas. So much so that I was fortunate enough to be in attendance at a Corporate function during last Saturday nights Geelong v St Kilda match and the topic of discussion soon turned to Lorne’s latest and greatest addition.

It was sparked when the Corporate Catering Manager at Skilled Stadium, who also looks after Lorne Surf Club, having attended the Lorne vs Sth Colac game, brought the attention of the group to the facilities that were unfolding in Lorne – and in particular the scoreboard! Our local club, the Stribling Reserve Section 86 Committee and the Surf Coast Shire can be very proud of their achievements to date and the great benefits of our community working as one.

The Community of Lorne was saddened to hear the passing of Evelyn Powell, a lady whose life had touched many through her journey, and I for one am in this group. Along with a number of other Lorne youth I will carry forever the memories of Evelyn and the late June Hunt’s well organised swimming lessons conducted in the Erskine River. These lessons continued for some time until the opening of the Lorne Swimming pool and the formation of Lorne’s first swimming club.

Kitted out in vertical blue and white striped swim wear, the female and male youth of Lorne were in great hands. Such a great experience with input from such great ladies seems such a distant memory. Many will often recall these memories only to be reminded that our kids, and their kids, can’t experience the same today because of the e-coli levels of the river
– such a shame and something we need to change!

A continuing reminder that our next community luncheon is scheduled for the Friday prior to the AFL Grand Final.

We would love you to spread the word and go out of your way to invite others that may attend for the first time, so put the date in your diary – Friday September 27.

Ian Stewart
Chairman – Committee for Lorne

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