Year in Review – January to March

Jakara Anthony won Winter Olympic gold in the women's moguls at Beijing in February. (The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images)

JANUARY

Drive-through COVID-19 testing sites were overwhelmed as a spike in infections peaked at over 1,200 active cases in Greater Geelong.

A collision between a truck and a car at the intersection of Bacchus Marsh Road and the Geelong Ring Road left one woman dead and saw a two-year-old girl airlifted to hospital.

The STS Young Endeavour dropped anchor at Geelong after completing a 10-day voyage from Tasmania.

Geelong men Clint Wallish and Todd Curtis completed their ‘Tour de Snag’, eating a sausage at every Bunnings store in the state, after 10 months and 7,500 kilometres on their motorcycles.

The Geelong Crime Investigation Unit arrested a Whittington man over the alleged armed robbery of a liquor store in Newcomb.

FEBRUARY

Geelong Cricket Club’s Hayden Butterworth hit his third century in five games against Fitzroy Doncaster.

The City of Greater Geelong agreed to purchase the land and assets of the Bell Park Sports Club to ensure grassroots sport continued to thrive in the area.

Barwon Heads Olympian Jakara Anthony claimed Australia’s first Winter Olympic gold medal since 2010 when she dominated the finals of the women’s moguls in Beijing.

The Andrews Government launched its bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with Geelong a front-runner to host events.

6,000 people came together at the Northern Community Hub in Norlane to celebrate the 40th edition of Pako Fiesta.

MARCH

Data released by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor showed $9.84 million was lost to pokies across the City of Greater Geelong in January 2022.

Work began on a $13 million community hub to support residents in the growing Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed area.

The Foo Fighters performed at GMHBA Stadium to 30,000 just nine days after announcing the show, leading to a massive bump in revenue for Geelong businesses.

Joel Selwood announced he would lead Geelong Cats for an eleventh season in 2022.