LONG-serving Geelong councillor Stretch Kontelj (pictured) might have left for a high-flying job in England with Specsavers but memories of him linger, or maybe that should be bubble.
Stretch, a staunch Liberal, earned praise from both sides of the political fence for his service to Geelong. He also had a reputation as a hard worker, a fitness enthusiast and an educated family man who packed more into a single day than most would fit in a week.
But, as few might know or remember, he could also knock back a lager, winning a beer-drinking contest at 1983’s inaugural Pako Festa.
Now that’s an achievement we can all toast.
Cheers, Stretch.
ADAM Goodes’ return to the AFL in Geelong this weekend might signify social change in football but it will also underline significant physical transformations as well.
Previously, the greatest indigenous footballer to stride Kardinia Park was generally regarded to be Graham ‘Polly Farmer’, a Cats champion of the ‘60s. Standing 191cm and weighing 94kg, Farmer took on the role generally reserved for the tallest player on the paddock: ruckman.
In contrast, Goodes is a utility, a role usually handed to players shorter than a ruckman. But Goodes is also 191cm – and 6kg heavier than Farmer was in his heyday.
Modern players are certainly bigger. But are they better?
Goodes can try answering that one tomorrow.
STILL on football, a newly groomed Geelong coach Chris Scott was greeted with a compliment – sort of – instead of a question first up at his weekly media conference.
“Nice haircut,” quipped Indy photographer Reg Ryan as he snapped this shot of Scott’s new do.
“Thanks,” replied Scott evenly.
“That means something – coming from a photographer.”
A HIGH-profile Liberal attended a fundraiser in the Geelong region this week but wasn’t letting on how he travElled here.
The function was only days after parliamentary speaker Bronwyn Bishop finally resigned for her $5200 helicopter flight to a Liberal fundraiser at Curlewis Golf Club.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott attended this week’s event, at Clyde Park winery, near Bannockburn, before spending the following moring making various local funding announcements.
The $150 a head Inaugural Corangamite Gala Dinner raised funds for Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson.
It’ll be interesting to see how the PM puts that one down on his next parliamentary expenses form.
GEELONG Mayor Darryn Lyons (pictured) is a Leo, coincidentally symbolised as a lion, who shares his birth date this month with some significant others who made their marks before him.
Iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel would have raised her perfected eyebrows if she had ever viewed his colourful dress sense, while former US President Bill Clinton and legendary aviator Orville Wright were also born on 19 August.
The stars, or whoever interprets them, say 19 August babies become adults “always looking to reach the next level”.
Suddenly those rumours about Cr Lyons running for federal parliament sound a little more credibilE, in the stars at least.
BRILLIANT piece of information from parliamentary secretary for health Mary-Anne Thomas, saying “new data” showed almost half of Victoria was below the state-wide average for having free breast cancer checks.
Small wonder, really – an average is arrived at when the total of a set of items is divided by the number of items.
For breast cancer checks, the state-wide average participation rate was 54 per cent, with 47 electorates above the state-wide average and 33 electorates below it.
The good news was the Geelong women appear to be great at getting checked, with Bellarine at 63 per cent and Geelong at 60 per cent.
