Forget the hype over large, expensive, floating conical shapes masquerading as Christmas Trees – the lights are finally up on Point Lonsdale’s real deal!

A small band of volunteers from Rotary and Lions Clubs labored for hours yesterday (Saturday 14th) to string festoons of more than 400 new environmentally-friendly coloured bulbs up the 37-metre high icon.

Among them was Wayne Pecar, who was perched at the very tip of the Norfolk Pine.

The new LED decorations were purchased with a $20,000 Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale Community Enterprise grant. They replace the outdated incandescent bulbs used for the past 60 years and will greatly reduce running costs.

The switch will be flicked to light up our giant Norfolk Pine on Saturday December 5.

​The Point Lonsdale pine is over 100 years old, stands approximately 37.5 metres high and once lit can be seen some 30 nautical miles out to sea. 
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Pictured: Wayne Pecar at the top of Point Lonsdale's 37 metre Norfolk Pine

​ One hundred local primary school students will hit the beach in coming days as part of a new Nippers in Schools program, initiated by the Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club.
The pilot scheme, targeting grade 3 to 6 levels, will be trialled in Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff Primary schools.

“It aims to educate these students about their local environment in terms of surf safety and awareness, while developing their skills and confidence to promote healthy living and fun at the beach,” said Club spokesman Liam Petrie-Allbutt. 

“Recently, Life Saving Victoria published a report highlighting a widespread lack of swimming abilities in primary school aged children. Such findings make the new Nippers in School pilot program especially relevant and important for coastal school communities such as Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff Primary,” he said.

“In addition to the surf lifesaving aspect of the program, there will also be some friendly competitions as well as other fun activities including stand-up surfing on G-Boards, beach volleyball, and beach soccer.”
Time, demand and cost constraints mean many local children miss out on the opportunity to participate in the regular two-week intensive Nippers program, conducted by the PLSLSC over the Christmas holidays. 
Mr Petrie-Allbutt said schools, parents, club volunteers and local business have thrown their support behind the initiative.

“The 360 Property Group, Michael Limb Builders, Kerleys Coastal Real Estate, SISU Wellness & Banjo have kindly donated funds for the provision of a complimentary sun-smart rash vest for all student participants.”
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Six Nipper sessions will run through November and December at no cost to the students.
Anybody interested in volunteering to help facilitate the program can contact Liam Petrie-Allbutt -svp@pointlonsdaleslsc@asn.au.
 
Photo courtesy John Donegan.

The youngest coaches in the Bellarine Football League (BFL) will spearhead Queenscliff’s 2016 finals campaign.

Former Geelong Football League (GFL) talents Andrew Hodgson, 26, and Jono Casey, 24, have taken over the reigns of the job from Tom Limb and Steven Owen. The duo, who were part of last season’s winning St Joseph’s senior side - playing under former Queenscliff coach Heath Jamieson - decided early last season they wanted to try their hand at coaching.  “We’d heard nothing but good things about Queenscliff as a whole, not just on-field but off-field as well, which is really important,” Hodgson said. “It was something that we didn’t have to think too much about because we’d spoken at length earlier in the year about if something like this came up.” 

​Hodgson has two years of assistant coaching within the Kyneton District Football League under his belt. He also coached last season’s St Joseph’s U/16 side.

 “Whilst we’re quite young… I think we bring a youthful look on coaching,” said Casey. “I know the last couple of coaches here have been 25. You can relate really well to the group you’re playing with and you’re coaching alongside. “I think obviously being with Jamo [Jamieson] the last couple of years we’ve learnt how to bring a really good culture around the club…and getting good people to the club and creating a bit of excitement as well.” The pair say they will seek guidance from Limb and Owen, who will continue to play this season, but will bring their own coaching styles.

“We know that it’s a lot of hard work and coming into a new league you want to impress, not only on the coaching side but playing as well. We still think we’ve got a lot to offer as players and we’ll be working as hard as anyone to make sure we’re playing well in what is a new environment for us. We’ve never played in this league, we’ve never really played against these clubs,“ Hodgson said. They are also keen to see the Coutas back at the top of the ladder.

“We’re not saying we’re going to win six or seven or eight games, but we certainly want to get the best out of the group and hopefully what we bring can help do that. “If we can field a full squad there’s no reason why we can’t be really competitive with the top-end teams,” said Casey.

Meanwhile Queenscliff’s player stocks have risen with the return of Triple premiership player Daniel Gibbs and the signing of Bell Park talent Jason Graham. Gibbs has spent the past two years playing with St Josephs and the Geelong VFL side.