Geelong businessman and Indy Tip-Stars competitor George Ramia enjoyed a whirlwind few days late last week.
Well, cyclonic might be a better description of his experiences following the AFL’s season launch in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
That’s because the following day the man referred to in certain circles as Gorgeous George-ous flew to Darwin – and straight into the teeth of Cyclone Marcus!
George safely hunkered down in his ritzy hotel as the winds raged, although he did brave the elements to film his version of cyclone-assisted pole dancing for Facebook.
The Sphinx operator was actually in town for Saturday’s Darwin races, which were understandably cancelled.
At least George could look on the bright side: the races were been blown away but at least his TAB account wasn’t!
Maybe George-ous should have just stayed home and attended the Geelong St Patrick’s Day Cup instead.
After all, the St Pat’s event ran happily the same day as its cancelled Darwin counterpart, and in fine weather, too.
Thanks in part to the absence of cyclones in southern Australia, the St Pat’s Cup is now over 100 years old, with a dedicated club keeping it on the state racing calendar.
The cup also has a fair level of state dedication, too, with the Andrews Government tipping in $30,000 as the event’s largest funding source. And that wasn’t the only public money on the races, with the club’s website listing the TAC as an “industry” sponsor.
The job of announcing the state cash for a race day must have been a delicate situation for local MP Christine Couzens after spruiking state initiatives against pokies losses barely a fortnight before.
Her statement revealing the Pat’s Cup cash turned up on emails at 4.33pm the day before, virtually guaranteeing no media coverage given local deadlines.
It’s a fair bet to say she took a punt on scratching any blowback.
Following the big send-off Greg Dodds on his last night as the Barwon Club’s publican last month, another former local pub operator is planning a party of his own.
Lindsay Toulmin wants to host a reunion of regulars from his 12 years as owner of Geelong’s West’s Argyle Hotel, now Irish Murphy’s.
With his 70th looming on the same night, Lindsay’s generously extended the invitation also to old “cricket and football acquaintances, friend or foe”.
“Everyone’s welcome,” he declared.
“I was born in this town and have had 70 wonderful years. This is my way of thanking the lovely people of Geelong.”
Err, maybe not all.
“People can email or phone me for the date and location. I barred 65 blokes after taking over the pub, so you can understand why I might not want everyone to turn up.”
Unbarred prospective guests can email Lindsay on lindsaytoulmin70@yahoo.com or phone 0418 521 198.
