The future looks bright at the Point Lonsdale Bowls Club with the formation of its first junior bowls squad. 

The Stingrays is for children aged 10 to 13 keen to learn the skills involved in the sport. 

“Lawn bowls clubs throughout Australia are making huge in-roads with the implementation of various junior bowls programs for those as young as 10 years of age,” said spokesperson Steve Tomming. 

“This change of mindset has been the result of the recent focus to  include younger bowlers into state and national bowls squads and teams.”

Mr Tomming said the new squad would receive coaching suited to their skill level and needs, with a view to growing the sport locally.

“The hope is that these keen young bowlers will eventually be able to compete at local level, at district events and at state competitions.
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“Squad members have already shown early, yet exciting signs of bowls skills and these will only be enhanced with further coaching and game playing,” he said.

SURFING - From opposite side of the globe, sister and brother Laurie and Jay Phipps are conquering waves.

On the back of scoring a Gold medal at the French Parasurf Championships in October, Laurie last month placed third at the World Para Surfing Championships.

Laurie, whose foot was amputated after a devastating scooter accident two years ago, was competing for France in the women’s stand two division. 

Speaking after the event, she thanked supporters from both France and Australia who had aided her performance had encouraged to go further. 

“This bronze medal is an encouragement for my first world championships. I will do everything to come back next year and I will try to improve a bit,” she said.

Younger brother Jay, meanwhile, last month helped Victoria finish third in the Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles, staged at North Stradbroke.

He finished equal fifth in the Under 16 Men division.
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Laurie and Jay’s father, Mark Phipps, is a highly-regarded surf board maker. Through his work, the family shares their time between Point Lonsdale and France.

The Queenscliff Hotel will be restored to its former grandeur, with new owners keen to give the heritage-listed treasure a new lease of life. 

Kerley’s Coastal real estate agency manager Damian Cayzer confirmed the Gellibrand Street landmark has changed hands after close to 10 months on the market, but was unable to reveal the buyer’s identity or the price paid. 

“The buyer is an interstate investor, with ties back to the Geelong Region,” Mr Cayzer said. 

“They are planning to renovate and restore the grand old building to its former glory and re-open as a restaurant, hotel, day spa and accommodation facility in line with the approved architect designed and Heritage Victoria approved plans.”

At the time of it being listed for sale,  it was thought the hotel could fetch as high as $10 million. 

The Queenscliff last changed hands in 2015, with the previous owners gaining approval for - but not actioning - a major redevelopment, incorporating a day spa. 

Built in 1887, the hotel was made famous in the 1970’s when it traded as Mietta’s Queenscliff, under renowned chef Mietta O’Donnell.

“I think this is fantastic news for 3225 and the broader Geelong Region,” said Mr Cayzer. 

The redevelopment will commence early this year, he added.
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The Queen Anne-style building was designed by Melbourne architects Reed, Henderson & Smart, who were also responsible for the State Library of Victoria, Collins Street Baptist Church, Melbourne Trades Hall and a number of Melbourne university buildings. It sits on 1,685sqm and boasts period features, 16 hotel rooms, dining room, a manager’s apartment, bar, library and sitting rooms.

A new business consortium aims to reinvigorate Queenscliffe’s business landscape by targeting empty shops and transforming them into new hospitality enterprises. 

The group, headed by 360Q restaurant owner Barry Iddles, has already opened its new Wharf Street Panty, in the former LIX retail space at Queenscliff Harbour, and will soon turn its attention to the much-loved Hesse Street eatery Shelter Shed. 

According to Mr Iddles, the new company - made up of current and former colleagues - was formed on the back of concern for the town's business future - a key driver of tourism and employment. 

“We were discussing how there were shops empty or hardly open when the harbour approached us to take over the vacant shop LIX. We saw it as a great opportunity to create a joint venture, Queenscliff Hospitality Pty Ltd, and set out to reinvigorate our great town,” Mr Iddles said. 

“The Shelter Shed was also on the market so we snapped it up. It is such a beautiful venue, we will breathe some life back into it as soon as the lease is signed.

A third acquisition was also potentially in the pipeline, Mr Iddles said. 

“I am so proud of my team. We all hate seeing empty shops."

While figures show tourism visitation has bounced back, several business owners are still reeling from the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions and subsequent staffing shortages. Two shops in central Hesse Street remain vacant after more than two years.

Mr Iddles said the new company’s vision was to ensure Queenscliff was “open”, with consistent trading hours and a renewed energy.  

“We are a tourist town… we need to get the whole town, businesses, to be excited about what they do,” he said. That means open and trading all public holidays, long weekends - with a surcharge for public holiday trading. 

"I employ 45 staff and our payroll is huge on public holidays but we would never consider closing these days. It is a service to the community and our tourists.”

Mr Iddles has been a driving force behind recruiting retirees and pensioners to help alleviate staffing pressures and was keynote speaker at a Victorian Tourism Industry Council forum on the benefits of employing a mature workforce. 

His growing workforce will work across the three venues.

"I'm a great believer in the law of attraction. If you get up every day of the week and say 'there's no workers' you're not going to attract them," He told the forum. 

"Our integenerational team ranges between the age of 15 and 78, so we've now got a broad spectrum of people.
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  "The comraderie between my team is incredible. It's given them a new lease of life, as in everyone learns from everyone else," he said.

Queenscliff’s new ferry terminal has opened earlier than was planned to  help cope with an anticipated massive influx of school holiday visitors.

“Whilst not fully complete, the building has passed all safety and compliance tests to enable customers to utilise the passenger lounges and beachside food offering,” said Searoad Ferries CEO Matt McDonald. 

“We are very excited to finally be opening after what has been a challenging three years. The building will be fully completed and officially launched in March 2023. Works to be finished will be the passenger gantry for accessible boarding, a digital immersive experience, and an expanded food offering.”

Built by Kane Constructions, the $15.9 million terminal has been designed by award-winning F2 Architects as a modern interpretation of the town’s original Fishermen’s Pier, demolished in 1960. 

Once fully completed it is expected to cater to upwards 950,000 passengers over the next 12 months, rising to more than a million in coming years. 

Described by Mr McDonald as a new “jewel of the Bellarine,” the state-of-the-art, two-level building has been funded under Geelong City Deal - a $382.48 million commitment between the Commonwealth and Victorian governments and the City of Greater Geelong to revitalise the city and regional economy. Searoad Ferries contributed $5.9 million towards the build.

The terminal offers improved pedestrian and disability access and a new ground floor food venue, TARRA Queenscliff, which will operate from 7am and will provide a contemporary menu for breakfast and lunch. 
A new external boardwalk is also nearing completion.

Searoad Ferries is awaiting Borough of Queenscliffe approval for a revised liquor license, which would lift the number of patrons from to 90 to 540 and extend its operating hours from 9pm to 1am to accommodate more patrons and activities - including night time ferry cruises and training services. 

Operating since 1987, the company’s vessels cross the bay upwards of 8,200 annually and carry more than 250,000 vehicles, making it Australia’s busiest vehicle ferry service. 

Last year it was recognised at a national level, with a bronze in the category of Best Major Tour and Transport Operator at the Australian Tourism Industry Awards and last month was awarded yet another Victorian Tourism Industry Award.

With a massive influx of tourists anticipated over the next month, foot passengers are being encouraged to pre-book their tickets. 
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Following its success last year, the company will again offer a shuttle bus service on both sides of the bay, to carry passengers into Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale and Sorrento and Portsea.
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