The Dandenong Ranges might have a cross-bay challenger for the novelty of its Great Train Race, pitting runners against steam engine Puffing Billy each April.
The Bellarine Peninsula will go one mode of historic transport better this summer when Sunset Marathon entrants test themselves against … a tall ship!
Organisers announced this week that Enterprize, a Melbourne-based replica of Captain Cook’s famous vessel, would attend to add a maritime aspect to February’s 21km run between Portarlington and St Leonards.
The Bellarine Sunset Run was already a “unique experience” for its route through seaside towns, organiser Dion Milne explains.
“Now, having the Enterprize in sight and the chance to actually try to race it is sure to add to the excitement,” Dion says.
Presumably the runners remain on land when racing the ship.
They say politicians would attend the opening of a chocolate bar if media cameras were present.
So Double Take wonders how local MP Sarah Henderson fared for attention this week when she invited all and sundry to attend her “Celebration of the switching on of the new Yeodene mobile phone tower”.
That would be at the farming locality of Yeodene, tucked away in the Otways between Warncoot and Gerangamete.
For the commissioning of a phone tower.
A worthy piece of infrastructure, no doubt, but hopefully it came with a phone box to host Sarah’s “celebration”.
Meanwhile, new Geelong tenant WorkSafe has launched a three-year program against workplace bullying.
Given the authority’s new office is nearing completion diagonally opposite City Hall, management can at least expect some savings on transport to presentations.
Maybe they could go further and extend that to phones with a string between two tin cans!
After that mild mockery, City Hall does deserve some credit this week for its latest sports-ground naming.
Out goes the uninspiring Eastern Park Oval Number Four and in comes David Hickinbotham Oval, in honour of the Cats’ 1880s champion and captain.
Makes a nice change to Surf Coast, where the fashion is tongue-twisters such as Djilla Tjarri Play and Skate Zone.
And finally, surely this week’s so-called “outbreak” of Q fever is the final dirty nail in the coffin of Geelong saleyards.
News that 25 saleyard workers have tested positive to the disease comes as council administrators grapple with the inevitable decision to relocate the historic, crumbling facility with the massive maintenance bill.
The fact it’s now also an identified incubator of interspecies nastiness – smack bang in the middle of an urban area – should seal the deal.
Otherwise, residents of North Geelong – and possibly Rippleside, Drumcondra, Geelong West and Norlane at least – might like to enquire of City Hall whether free Q fever vaccinations are available.
