![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/Geoff-300x199.jpg\")
\u201cI was honoured, I didn\u2019t expect it \u2026 I was supposed to make a speech, but all I could say was thank\u00a0you,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Stockdale received the business award for his huge influence as manager of the\u00a0Portarlington Golf Club.<\/p>\n
Stockdale moved to Portarlington prior to 2010, a year the club suffered a financial loss, he has\u00a0delivered profits every year since.<\/p>\n
Along with combining the men\u2019s and women\u2019s golf committees, delivering a new course master plan and\u00a0 claiming the Community Clubs Victoria Golf Club of the Year award in 2014.<\/p>\n
His proudest achievement is the redevelopment of the facilities, in particular the modernised clubrooms.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new rooms are set up for conferencing, functions, weddings and have a 180-seat capacity,\u201d Stockdale said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was something we all worked really hard towards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stockdale, who has managed various clubs for 30 years, said it was a great surprise to receive the\u00a0award and he was proud of the impact the club has had on the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a complete surprise, I had no idea that was happening,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about running a club down there, it\u2019s also about employing local people … we were able to provide jobs and opportunities for people. It\u2019s been a pretty good time for me and the club.\u201d<\/p>\n
PBDA president John Rae OAM praised both men for their great work.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeoff is a terrific quiet achiever \u2026 he was instrumental in gaining the ferry and the Safe Harbour. I\u00a0have worked with him on those projects and have no doubt his skills played a vital part in gaining\u00a0funding for the projects which have changed Portarlington greatly,\u201d Rae said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRon did an amazing amount over his 10 years \u2026 the Portarlington Golf Club is one of the jewels on the Bellarine and due to Ron\u2019s leadership that jewel is now larger and shines more brightly.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
INFLUENTIAL Portarlington figures Geoff Henderson and Ron Stockdale\u00a0were acknowledged for their\u00a0outstanding work by the Portarlington Business Development Association (PBDA). The December meeting, which was held over two nights around Christmas to abide by COVID-19\u00a0restrictions, saw the duo\u2019s power of work recognised as Henderson received the community award\u00a0while Stockdale picked up the business award. Henderson was […]<\/p>\n