Honouring Tim: Fairhaven SLSC run returns

THE seasonal tide will change this Sunday’s Tim Gates Classic to a morning event, but Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club organisers say that will not take away from the atmosphere on the day.

Fairhaven SLSC president Nancy Joseph confirmed this year’s Tim Gates Classic will kick off at 11am, not its original 4.30pm timeslot.

“Obviously we don’t want runners running water, so we’ll be bringing the event forward this year, the race has always been totally tide-dependent,” Ms Joseph said.

“It will be a great day either way and the club is ready to welcome participants back for another year.”

The annual Tim Gates Classic raises funds for the Tim Gates Foundation, reinvesting funds back into the club’s members and upskilling and educating volunteers.

The Foundation honours the memory of Tim Gates, a Fairhaven lifesaver who died in 2008, aged 52, after being pulled from the water at the beach having suffered a head injury.

The foundation continues the work Tim did throughout his life by assisting young community members in their quest to further their skills in competition, leadership, and learning.

“It is a sad day given the day honours Tim, but it is also a positive and uplifting day as well in the sense that it brings people down from the Surf Coast, Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria and New South Wales,” Ms Joseph said.

“A lot of people who had close connections with Tim still come back for the event, whether it’s a walk or run or just catching up with other, there’s a whole bunch of people who come down to Fairhaven for this one event – it’s a really nice connector.

“It creates a positive environment, we get a lot of support of the community, sponsorship, and our supporters.”

Course options in the Tim Gates Classic will remain the five-kilometre walk, five-kilometre run and the headline portion, the 10-kilometre run.

For more information, head to fairhavenslsc.org/pages/tim-gates-classic