Queenscliff has a team to follow in the AFLW, with Carlton indicating it is prepared to forge long-term links with our town. 

The team spent recently three days at a pre-season training camp, at YMCA Camp Wyuna, where players were put through their paces ahead of next month’s season opener. 

General Manager Nicole Graves said it was their first-ever pre-season camp, and proved to be the perfect setting.  

“We’ve had a bit of footy and a bit of rain and a bit of sun, we’ve had everything, which really suits because these girls play in summer and so the heat and the humidity has been really good for us,” Graves said. 

“The team at YMCA has been brilliant, they’ve really looked after us.

“This camp is what we thought was required to keep the girls together and keep them connected as a team… It really sets up good relationships and makes them bond better. 

“We have 11 new players coming in from the draft, a third of the team, so it’s really important that they get to know each other and it’s also good for new coach Daniel Harford to get to know them and see what they can do. 

“We only have two weeks break for Christmas, we have a month of training then they start in the first week of February.”

Carlton is the latest in a growing list of elite sporting teams choosing Queenscliff for their pre-season training, because of the amenities on offer.  

“It’s good for us because we can do the recovery in the beach, it’s still close enough to Melbourne and people have been fantastic around the town,” Graves said.

“We’re really lucky and there’s a lot of teams coming down here now. We’re already talking about next year.”

Camp Wyuna Manager Andrew Kidd said a growing number of clubs, both elite and community, were chosing Queenscliff for training camps. 
​
"We have a perfect mix of parks, sporting facilities, running and walking paths and of course the beach to base a good mix of activities around."

Queenscliff cricketers have drawn the ledger in the second annual Couta Bowl 20-20 Clash, played on Saturday December 5.

Having been defeated by a team of local footballers in the first encounter, two seasons ago, the cricketers were determined to restore some pride. 

Opposing captains Tom Kidd and Tom Caddy provided solid captains knocks in the high-scoring encounter. 
Despite adopting "backyard rules" and fielding 14 players, the footballers still fell short by 30 runs - 234 to 230. 

The cricketers also scored bragging rights in the curtain-raiser U/19 match. 

​

Six teams are flying the finals flag for the Queenscliff Football-Netball Club, including our senior, including our senior footballers.

Despite losing last weekend's final home and away clash against Ocean Grove, the Coutas finished fifth on the league ladder and will meet Geelong Amateurs in an elimination final this Sunday August 19). 

Had they managed a win, the Coutas could have secured second spot and a double chance. 

Meanwhile, our U/15 (Division 2) and U17 (Division 3) teams have moved straight into the grand final, with wins in last weekend's first finals clashes. Both teams finished on top of the ladder. 

The U/17's, coached by Luke Orvis, are looking for back-to-back premierships. 

And three netball sides are also in the hunt for premiership glory - U/13 (Division 2), U/17 (Division 1) and B-Grade (seniors).

All teams will be in action at Leopold this weekend. 

This weekend's games: 

Saturday August 18
NETBALL - U/17 - Leopold 10am
NETBALL - B-Grade - 1pm
Sunday August 19
FOOTBALL - seniors - Leopold - 2.10pm
NETBALL - U/13 - Leopold - 9am 

Construction of Queenscliff’s new netball facilities is back on track, with the State Government stepping in to help fund game day change rooms. 

The additional $200,000 comes on top of the $3.15 million already pledged by the government for stage two of the recreation reserve redevelopment. 

The Queenscliffe Council will contribute a further $400,000 towards the cost of the netball change rooms, which will also include a kitchenette and toilet. 

The grant will come as welcome relief to the Council, which recently revealed costs for the redevelopment project had blown out by $650,000. 

After several delays, work is progressing on the redevelopment, however the courts are now not expected to be finished before the end of the current season.  

Initial funding for the redevelopment was announced in the lead up to the 2014 state election and netballers were originally promised the courts would be ready for this season. 

Ms Neville conceded they had been “very patient” and had been forced to put up with “shoddy conditions.“
“We’re close now… hopefully [this] means were all on track and it’s all going to be done by September and I will be here to open it and I appreciate your patience along the way,” she said. 

“This is going to be a great facility, not just for you but also for the players coming through as well. 
“I can’t wait to be back here and shooting some goals,” she said. 

Mayor Susan Salter said she was grateful the money had been made available. 

“This funding will enable us to gorge ahead together to highlight the importance of creating an environment that supports health, wellbeing, inclusion and participation in sport,” she said. 

‘The community are very passionate about this project, it’s supportive of planned improvements and it’s fantastic to see their vision is coming to fruition.” 

The tender for construction of the netball change rooms has been awarded to BDH Constructions. 
Once completed, the redevelopment will also include four new cricket nets, a gymnasium and new car parking facilities. 
​
Plans for the gym are currently being finalised. Council will complete that element of the project as an owner builder.

In 1978 netball dresses laced up at the front and were a little more "potato-sackish" than the current styles.

The pool of players from which Queenscliff could draw upon was a lot smaller than today’s talent offering and the likelihood of our small club winning an A-Grade premiership was, well, pretty slim.

Nevertheless, that’s just what happened and this month, past players, supporters and the wider community is invited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the unlikely win.

The team, coached by Barb Moloney went in to the clash against Leopold as slight underdogs, but came away four goal winners. During the season the two sides met three times, for a draw and a win each.

“They had a huge number of players from Geelong comps that flooded into their club,” recalls Doreen Bramwell, the team’s centre player.  “Many of them had played at a very elite level and we were just home-grown Coutas girls, with the exception of Coral Hammond who came to us from Geelong. 

“Our coach was a calm and a clever influence on us all. Very fair but always expected the best from us all,” Doreen said.

It was the last time, and possibly the only time, the club tasted A-Grade glory, according to fellow team member Sue Orvis.

“I believe it’s the only one we’ve won, but I could be wrong. There might have been one before but I haven’t heard of one since,” she said.

While Sue doesn’t remember much about the game, she does remember the party at the Bowling Club afterwards.

The Saturday August 4 reunion will commence at 1pm and include a gathering at the netball courts to watch our current A-Graders in action and a President’s luncheon, followed by a celebration.

“I don’t want it to be just a ladies day or just for that group I’ve girls,” said Sue, who is also organising the event. “I want it to be for everyone, I want it to be netball through the ages and anyone else who wants to come. I want supporters, coaches, committee, I’m trying to get in touch with as many people as I can.

“I hope all the girls are coming, we’re working on it.”
​
Pictured from L to R: Leanne Baillieu (Neville), Coral Hammond, Doreen Bramwell, Sue Orvis (Briggs), Jenny Oakley (Shapter), Bev Young (Barrett), Gail Renzenbrink (Main), Robyn Birrell (Hewitt), Margaret Giddings (Sullivan) and Coach Barb Moloney.
​

Our municipality’s biggest sporting event celebrates its 30th birthday this month.
 
Upwards of 1500 swimmers are expected to line up for Rip View Swim Classic on Saturday December 30. 

"It's great timing this year, just betwen Christmas and New Year when a lot of people are in town, so we're expecting good numbers," said Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club president Mathew Ponsford. 

"I would expect the big guns to be in it again because they use it as a training swim before the Pier to Pub." 

Commenced by social swimming group the Gruesome Groyne Gropers in 1989, the event – initially called the “Springs to Swings Classic”  - is now one of the biggest open water swims in the state, boasting 1.4 and 3.8 kilometre courses. It is also the PLSLSC's biggest annual fundraiser.  
​
Registrations are open for both swims

FOOTBALL - Queenscliff's senior footballers have sweated it out in 30-plus degree conditions, in early preparations for a fresh assault on next season's Bellarine Football League premiership.
 
With new coach Steve Clark at the helm, a squad of more than 40 were put through their paces in a  series of gruelling time trials and skill drills on the first night of training last month. 

The former Leopold premiership coach said the strong turnout was a sign of positive season ahead. 

"The roll-up has been fantastic. There's 46 here tonight and there was a dozen apologies, so that's a great effort on the first night," Clark said. 

"The competition for spots will no doubt drive the squad that little bit harder... with the numbers being around, the training steps up and  the enjoyment steps up."  

Among the new faces was new recruit Ben Carmichael. The classy midfielder followed Clark from the Lions. 

Other recruits include Nick Aringo (Waubra), Mitch Butteriss (Leopold), Tim Connolly (Leopold), Nathan Monk (Lake Wendouree) and Brayden Warren (Ocean Grove). 

"At this stage it looks like there could be nine new players," said Clark.

"All the boys that have come here now have played some pretty good senior footy and they should be capable of doing that this coming season. 

"But the most improvement you always get from your list comes from within, so someone from within will be the biggest surprise packet, putting in a big pre-season or playing in a new position or whatever it will be. 
​
'The flip side I hope none of these blokes get too comfortable  because then they'll probably have a comfortable year," Clark said.    
​

Having finished on top of the ladder at the end of the home and away season, Queenscliff's U/19 netballers - coached by Hannah Stephens and Luci Hedley - went into their September 16 grand final showdown with Anglesea as favourites and did not disappoint.

​After trailing narrowly at the end of the first quarter, the Coutas put their foot down and ran away 19-point winners. Defender Felicity Rush was named player of the match.  
​

FOOTBALL – One of Queenscliff's favourite sons is coming home. In a major pre-season coup, the Coutas have secured Steve "Otis" Clark as coach for the 2018 season.
 
And he says he can’t wait to get his teeth into the role.

A life member of the Club, Clark played junior football here before coaching the Coutas for seven years between 2000 and 2006. 

“This has all happened a bit quick but it’s exciting to be back around the club and back around family, the father of three says. 

Last year Clark coached GFL side Leopold to a drought-breaking premiership and this season coached his own sons, Billy and Jhye, to a Queenscliff U/16 premiership. 

He takes over the reigns from Jonno Casey and Andrew Hodgson, who stood down after the Coutas narrowly missed the finals. 

“There have obviously been reasons for that but the blokes that I’ve spoken to – Jonno, Hodgy and Tom [former captain coach Tom Limb] have been really positive about where the improvement can come from,” Clark says.“

“I haven’t seen much of them playing obviously in the last few years so I’m watching a bit of vision at the moment and talking to a few people. 
​
"Looking as an outsider you raw with Newcomb, then you beat Torquay, so for whatever reasons there were inconsistencies but the difference between making the finals and not making the finals can be minute.

“I think it’s exciting that there’s improvement there straight away and you’ve just got to get your teeth into it. “

Clark’s arrival I likely to be a draw card for new players to the club, with players from Leopold and elsewhere indicating an interest in following him here.  He’s also sounded a willingness to give young players a better go. 

“You’ve definitely got to play the juniors at your club, there’s no doubt about that. 
​
"Everywhere I’ve coached I’ve played kids, that’s something I have done. I’ll recruit, no doubt as we need to, at the same time you always have to get a balance of the youth that you’ve got coming through.” 
​

FOOTBALL - The hunt is underway for a new senior coach, following the resignation of Jonno Casey and Andrew Hodgson. 

The pair informed players last week they would be stepping down from the role at the end of this season. 
Both will stay on as players.  

“We’ve had a bit of a chat over the last month and reached the conclusion that it’s probably best for the club to move forward,” said Casey. 

“It’s just a really good opportunity to get a new face in, but also to get a few more faces as well to keep building on the last couple of years,” he said. 

The decision comes amid a disappointing season for the Coutas. Hampered by injuries for much of the year, they are set to finish outside of the finals. 

Casey, 26 and Hodson 28, became the youngest coaches in the league when they were appointed in 2015. 
The Coutas finished second on the ladder and reached the preliminary final in their first season, but Casey admits a lack of depth has challenged the side in recent weeks. 

“We’ve had a number of injuries this year, which hasn’t helped either, but injuries happen and you’ve got to have depth to cover them when they occur. 

“It’s been really good that we’ve been able to give some young guys a game, but they still need a fair bit of time to develop and we need to look at getting another couple of players, just to try to keep up with all of the other clubs that are recruiting really well,” Casey said. 

Club officials have already started the process of finding a new coach. 
​
“I’ve absolutely loved coaching the team and I’d be really keen to do some coaching again in the future. I think it’s been a great learning curve for us in terms of the management of 40 to 50 guys at training and relationships and obviously getting to know how the club really works.”  


​

Talented Queenscliff waterpolo player Alexandra Scorgie has scored a place in the Barwon Sports Academy. 

The 16 year old is one of 94 aspiring young athletes in the Academy’s latest intake. 

Scorgie is a National Identified Athlete on the Australian Winning Edge (AWE) list, having shone during last year’s national club championships in Hobart. She was also highest goal scorer and most valuable player in last year’s U/16 state championships. 

The Borough of Queenscliffe is providing a $250 bursary to assist with her sporting costs. 
​
“The Academy is a great opportunity and every donation makes life a little easier for my family along the way,” she said. “This kind of practical support helps make pursuing my dreams of a place on a national team or squad possible, so thank you all.”

Bowls - Queenscliff will need to be at its best heading into the finals of the Premier League if its to have any shot at the premiership.
 
The Coutas finished the home and away season in third place, dropping one spot on the ladder after losing the last match against Bareena last Saturday.

Ocean Grove is the team to beat, finishing on top of the table - 46 points clear of Lara.

Sebastapol and Ballarat round out the final five. 
 ​

SAM SHEPPARD is king of the rip yet again, after winning his seventh Point Lonsdale Rip View Swim Classic.

Missing from last year's swim, Sheppard returned in fine style to take out the Men's Open section of the event in 18:42 in what he described as the toughest conditions he could remember in his many years of competing here. 

"I've done maybe 12 or 13 of these and this would have been the toughest one and you can probably see that with the time. The tide had turned and it became really choppy and I just slogged the whole way," Sheppard said. 

Super mum Naantalie Marshall also walked away with another winner's medal in the Open Women's section in a time of 22.00 - just one second ahead of teenage Point Lonsdale surf life saver Annaballe McPhail.

The 41 year old mother of two believed it was around the twentieth time she had contested the swim and had not kept a tally of how many wins she had notched up in Open and age categories.

Rough seas prompted her to ring ahead before leaving Anglesea  to double check the race was still on.  

"It was really really challenging so congratulation to everyone who finished the event, she said. It's very choppy and we're lucky it's a little protected. They always run a very good event here and they make everybody feel very safe. 

"For some reason this swim felt like it went on for a very long time."

"It's really nice to see girls like Annabelle coming through. We've had girld that have been doing quite well int heir twenties,..but to have a 17 year old coming through is really good and I hope she can continue for a long time," Marshall said.  

Earlier in the day future stars Matt Gilling and McPhail won the male and female sections of the 3.8km swim. Like McPhail, Gilling  backed up for the Open 1.4km swim, also finishing second by the narrowest of margins.  

Organisers were forced to move start and finish lines some 300 metres, because of a lack of sand and exposed rocks on Point Lonsdale's front beach. 

The Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club (PLSLSC) will definitely secure state government funding for its new clubhouse, after the project won important backing from Life Saving Victoria (LSV). 

The peak life saving body has included the project among just nine to be presented to next year’s Victorian budget. 

The organisation is responsible for managing the statewide grants process for new clubhouse rebuilds. 

 “Through a lot of hard work and a lot of lobbying and because of the success of where we are actually at the moment our club has been invited to participate in the budget bid,” said PLSLSC President Mathew Ponsford. “It took us about two seconds to accept that kind invitation. 

“What that effectively means is that Life Saving Victoria is going to do the budget submissions for the state government for the 2017/18 budget and we will be one of nine clubs as part of that bid. 

“So no longer will it be a case of when are we going to get the money from the state government, we will be getting money from the state government. It will be a firm commitment [and] we hope it’s not too far away,” Mr Ponsford said.  

“It’s certainly good news, it’s not all of the funding, but it’s certainly part of the funding which will certainly help us a long way. “

Building Committee Chair Chris Harper said a planning application for the $3.5 million clubhouse would be submitted with the Borough of Queenscliffe within the next month. 

Architect firm Jackson Clements Burrows is currently finalising the “neighbor friendly” design, he said. 

If successful in securing full funding, the two-level clubhouse will be completed by the end of 2018. 

“We’ve got the cake in the oven and we’re going to submit for town planning permit application by the end of the year and we’ve got a fair idea of what we’re heading towards but we’re not quite resolved yet. 

“The application will be lodged just before Christmas, we hope to have some community consultation and some member consultation sessions before it goes in. 

“We’re very keen to make sure we respect our relationship with our neighbours, so it’s likely that the new facility will look out over the sand dunes and over the adjacent Ganes Reserve. “

“Everyone is waiting with baited breath to see what the end design might look like,” Mr Harper said. “I think we’re on track to be a good community member and respect our surroundings and deliver what the club needs.” 

The Borough of Queenscliffe paved the way for the redevelopment earlier this year when it agreed to hand over an adjacent section of land for one dollar. 
​
That move followed an exhaustive and unsuccessful five year search for an alternative club house site.

Our local skateboarding fraternity has a simple and reasonable request; they just want to be able to skate without their wheels becoming wedged in the ever-widening cracks that are multiplying at the popular Point Lonsdale Gas Works skate park. 

Better still, they would like to finish each session without breaking a limb.

But to date the group’s repeated pleas for an upgrade of the site have largely fallen on deaf ears. 

Some time back the Council did send in a team to repair some of the cracks with a black putty-like substance. But it melts in the heat, only exacerbating the problems. 

“This is a really good park, it’s the envy of skaters in other places, or at least it was until recently,” said long time user Josh Wood. “It’s just getting really worn out and the cracks are a big problem. 

“And if you ride over the bits where they’ve repaired, your wheels just get stuck,” he said. 

Nat Stephens, 12, knows too well the increasing hazards. He was left with arm-length plaster after his wheel struck a rough patch, throwing him from his board. 

Dozens of children frequent the almost 20 year old park, more would use it if it was safer,” said Josh. 

“I have been skating here since it was built and if you ask anyone around Geelong and the Bellarine, they’ll say their favourite skate park is Lonnie but they all agree it’s not as good as it used to be.   

“There are lots of cracks and sections of the concrete are now really rough, so if you fall off you get really cut up. If you come off on some sections it’s like falling off a motorbike onto a road.

“It just needs to be repaired properly, not a quick fix like they have been doing. It would be good if they could also put in some new jumps,” he said. “They could improve it, I’m not sure how, but it just needs a refurbishment to make it safer it.”  

Borough CEO Lenny Jenner said the previous Council met with skateboarders some three years ago, and had unsuccessfuly applied for a grant to upgrade the park. 
​
"Council commissions annual independent safety inspections of the skate park.  I understand that no safety issues have been identified," he said. "Council has undertaken concrete patching works at the skate park where and when spalling of the concrete has occurred."