Over the past two years the Surf Coast Shire Council has been transferring the management of over thirty parcels of land to the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority with Bells Beach/Djarrak being the last to be transferred.

At the transfer ceremony (pictured above) the Mayor, Cr Liz Pattison said, “The Council has managed this land for the last 35 years, but for the preceding 65,000 years this very special place has been cared for by the Wadawurrung people, the traditional custodians.

After locals graded the track to Bells Beach/Djarrak in 1961 and with the increasing popularity of the new surf spot, the Australian Surfrider’s Association led a push for the Barrabool Shire to apply to the State Government to be appointed as the manager of the land and for the area to be known as “The Bells Beach Surfing Recreation Reserve”.

The Council was appointed the land manager in May 1971 and in November 1971 the name “Bells Beach Surfing Recreation Reserve” was official, making Bells Beach/Djarrak the world’s first surfing reserve.

Over those 53 years the Council has worked with a number of groups, schools and industries to revegetate, upgrade and preserve this area to protect cliff edges from erosion and to support regeneration of coastal heath vegetation.

This beach is of course famous for the Bells Easter contest held since 1962 thus making it the world’s longest running surfing contest.”

Whilst the Mayor was speaking I was reminded of the significant contribution made in the 1960s and 70s by Stan Couper. Stan and Vi settled in Lorne in 1960, where he worked in the local office of the Lands Department.

Soon with daughter Gail and the new addition Geoff, they became involved in the local surfing scene.

In this decade the popularity of surfing boomed along the beaches of the Surf Coast.

Torquay became the gateway to this new way of life and soon a rough track was cut leading to what is now the world-famous Bells Beach.

Stan soon became involved in the administration of the surfing movement, in the 70s becoming the Victorian president of the Australian Surfriders’ Association.

He became an advocate for not only the recreational rights of surfers, but also for the environment along our coastline.

In 1970 the national executive of the Association and the Victorian committee brought the World Championships to Bells Beach, with the administrative hub and Teams Parade at Lorne.

A plan to revegetate the Bells Beach area began in the late 1960s with plantings officially starting in 1970.

During the world titles trees were planted as a commemorative act by competitors and officials Tony Olsson and Stan Couper.

In November of 1970, the Barrabool Shire resolved to ensure the preservation of Bells Beach as Australia’s leading surf riding location.

The Council also agreed to the planting of designated areas as native flora reserves and to the overall policy of retaining the environment and character of the area.

It is clear that Stan, along with Rod Brooks (who became president of the Australian Surfrider’s Association) played a significant role in this farsighted policy.

The planting efforts continued in the 70s through the selection of the Victorian team to compete in the annual National Surfrider’s Championship.

There were four contests, one of which was named the Conservation Contest, to be held at Bells Beach in August.

The surfers were required to plant trees throughout the days of the competition.

This was the first major community project undertaken by the Australian Surfrider’s Association and all members of the surfing and environmental community were invited to come and join in, “just bring a shovel”, with the netting guards constructed by the Association’s committee members.

In 1973, at the Victorian Championships, Australia’s (and the World’s) first surfing recreational reserve was declared and opened at Bells Beach, by the Hon. Murray Byrne, M.L.C., the minister for State Development.

Each decade since then the birthday of the world’s first official surfing reserve is celebrated.

During the 1980’s the Surfers Appreciating Natural Environment (S.A.N.E) was formed and it was given a seat on the Bells Beach Reserve Committee.

For World Environment Day 1989, S.A.N.E. motivated and coordinated the planting of four hundred trees at Bells Beach. Other groups have been formed over the years with a view to protect the natural environment of our coast.

In April 1985 Stan Couper was placed on the Nomination Honour Roll for induction into the Surfing Hall of Fame and in 2009.

Stan was posthumously inducted at a ceremony that was held at the Australian National Surfing Museum, Torquay.

This honour recognised Stan’s outstanding contribution to Australian surfing development, innovation and administration in competition surfing and the Australian Surfrider’s Association.

The handover ceremony to the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority concluded with the Mayor saying:

“Thank you to all these groups and more who have helped the Council manage and enhance this beautiful place.

Whilst the management responsibilities will change, the importance of this place will not.”

I add, thank you Stan for your visionary contribution to the restoration of Bell Beach/Djarrak.

Cr. Gary Allen

A word from the chairman

Who can understand politics? We look in bewilderment at the state of global politics and government.

Three of the pillars of the “free-world” are currently in disarray.

In the United(?) States we are witnessing two elderly men, with varying mental and truth disabilities, trading abuse.

Are these really the best candidates a nation of 340 million people can put up? In the United(?) Kingdom, the government is changing colour after 14 years of conservative government, and 4 prime ministers in the last 8 years.

I shudder to think about the cost of redundancies, relocations and changes of strategies and policies.

In France, which should be embracing and enjoying the festival of the Olympics, there is confusion and anger on the streets at the prospect of a far-right government, which did not eventuate.

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old prime minister resigns as a 28-year-old hopeful waits in the wings.

Locally we have our own issues with an elected senator disowning her party, and a former premier going to court to avoid handing over telephone records to the police force in which he had “absolute faith”.

Please explain!
*****
Fortunately, our local government is rather more stable and largely focussed on its core activities.

However, as previously noted in this column, there are significant changes to the Surf Coast Shire council structure which will impact on Lorne and its representation at council.

The revised structure is to apply from the October 2024 council elections.

Under the current electoral structure, Lorne is a separate ward with one councillor, and has been well-served by its recent councillors, Clive Goldsworthy and Gary Allen.

Going forward, there is a 3 ward structure, each ward having 3 councillors, thereby retaining the current number of councillors at 9.

Under this structure, Lorne will be part of the Otway Range Ward which will also cover Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Jan Juc and Deans Marsh.

So, what does this mean for Lorne? It means that if we (Lorne) are to continue to have our voice heard at Council, and to ensure an appropriate allocation of council financial resources and support services, we need a local candidate.

While it is open to anyone to run for election, the Committee for Lorne believes it is time to hand the baton to the next generation, to someone who lives and/or works in Lorne and who is passionate about the future of our town, its school, its hospital, its emergency services and sporting and social infrastructure.

This is imperative!

If this is you, or someone you know, please let us at the CfL know.

We are ready to support you in any way we can and our current and former councillors are happy to provide you with more information and insights into the role.

The clock is ticking!

If we are not able to find a local candidate to contest the October election we will miss an opportunity to use our vote to ensure that Lorne continues to be heard around the council table in Torquay.

Cheers,

John

Lorne Ward Events Calendar

July

13th – Lorne Dolphins Football and Netball V Irrewarra-Beeac, at Stribling Reserve, juniors match from 9am, seniors at 2pm

27th – Lorne Dolphins Football and Netball V Apollo Bay, at Stribling Reserve, juniors match from 9am, seniors at 2pm

 

August

17th – Lorne Dolphins Football and Netball V Alive, at Stribling Reserve, juniors match from 9am, seniors at 2pm

17th – Surfcoast Wonderfalls Trail Run, Starting at Cumberland River/Lorne from Distances: 5km 13km 25km 42km 52km

 

September

15 – Amy’s Gran Fondo, cycling event on the Great Ocean Road www.amysgranfondo.org.au