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Commodore’s Notes

It’s business as usual at the club this month. We are open 6 days a week, closing only on Tuesdays.
We’ve fired up the inside and outside heaters and the TV is on FOX SPORTS so drop in and enjoy our friendly cosy club, take in our beautiful views and sample the worlds best and coldest beer.
As usual we are running happy hours from 5pm until 6pm every Wednesday and Friday nights. Plus our regular raffle every Saturday night with 3 prizes drawn at 7pm.
We had record crowds over the recent school holidays with a lot of our members and visitors taking days off between Easter and ANZAC day, enjoying the sensational weather.
We’ve had a lot of our members using our facilities for parties recently, with our marquee proving very popular. It’s quite cosy under the marquee with the gas heater, even on those cold nights. Just remember to book well ahead with Hutch.
If you’re not a member, why not join now. Prices have dropped for the remainder of the membership season.
Pensioner $15
Single $30
Family $45
Boat Owner $60 – includes family membership with boat and fish cleaning facilities.

ADVANTAGES OF BECOMING A MEMBER:

  • You will have unlimited access, non-members can only visit 5 times and must sign in each time
  • Off season happy hours on Wednesday and Friday evenings
  • Membership card lucky number draws
  • Discount off bait
  • Use of our facilities for weddings, parties anything
  • Free meals and discounted refreshments at club events
  • Be a part of the worlds friendliest club

Beautiful Autumn Sunrise with jogger silhouetted doing her daily run. Photo by Ian Walding.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Major Fishing Competition Number Four on the 9th June, which is the Sunday of the Queens Birthday Long Weekend, sponsored by Tom Dawson from Dawson Concreting.
Come along and give it a go, bring the kids , grandkids, nieces or nephews, get them away from the screens and get them out into our beautiful fresh ocean air and enjoy the great outdoors.
Prizes are awarded to the juniors (under 18) and seniors after each competition followed by a scrumptious roast lunch which is free to all competitors.
All non fishing members are invited to come along and watch the fish being weighed in between midday and 12.30 and they can purchase a roast lunch for only $10.

WORLD SAUSAGE ROLL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Held on Sunday the 9th of June, Queens Birthday Long Weekend. Judging will begin at 5pm.
We now own the name “World Sausage Roll Championships” we’ve registered it as a trademark.
Entries are still open but filling up fast. We will have to put a lid on the number of entries because we don’t want our judging panel to expire from over eating sausage rolls.
We will be serving free hot sausage rolls all weekend to add to the theme.
We are also having a condiment competition for the best homemade chutney, relish or tomato sauce.
All members and visitors are welcome to come along and join in the fun.

RECENT EVENTS

We’ve had two fishing competitions since my last newsletter.
Major Comp Number Three which was held on Easter Sunday, sponsored by Peter Ryan & Associates and our first Winter Cup Competition held on the 5th of May, sponsored by Peter Wheal Landscapes.
The conditions were a bit ordinary for the Easter Comp but we still had a good turn out with plenty of fish weighed in.
The open winner was Ian Middleton with a big salmon = 3420 points.
Runner-Up was Paul Staley with a nice big yank flathead = 2640 points.
Third was Pat Russell with a big six spine leatherjacket = 2600 points.
In the junior section it was a family affair with the Lodges winning everything.
First was Zane Lodge with a flathead = 2410 points.
Runner-Up was Quinn Lodge also with a flathead = 2320 points.
Third was Daisy Lodge with a salmon = 2080 points.

For our first Winter Cup Comp again the conditions weren’t the best but thanks to our faithful stalwarts we had a successful day.
The winner was Ian Middleton with a huge salmon = 2840 points.
Runner-Up was Steve Arundell with a nice trevally = 2220 points.
Third was Brett Stewart with a mullet = 2210 points.
We will have to start calling Ian Middleton the “Salmon King’’.
Ian drives down to Lorne all the way from Bendigo and hardly ever misses a comp. He fishes off the rocks and regularly wins our comps with big salmon.
After the presentations everyone enjoyed a beautiful Mixed Grill which was expertly cooked by “Flea”. Not one burnt snag.

Competitors and members lining up for one of our scrumptious roasts.

LIVE MUSIC

After our magnificent roast beef lunch on Easter Sunday we hosted the VULCANS. They have been performing for us for several years now and as usual they were sensational. We were blessed with good weather and a record Easter crowd danced the night away.
Hutch and his hard working staff kept the refreshments flowing and everyone had a wonderful time.


Members and guests enjoying themselves in our beautiful outdoor area recently.

MENS SHED MODEL BOAT REGATTA

We were proud major sponsors of this event with many of our members being involved. It was a great success with our perfect autumn weather again turning it on.
Our Vice Commodore Doug Williams being an experienced sailor was the hot favourite but he went to water as soon as the pressure was applied. His new nickname is “The Snowflake”.
The race was won by ex Collingwood footballer Max Pitts sponsored yacht named Magpie.
The successful skipper was Bob Sinclair but in the middle of the race Bob had to run off to the loo and handed the reins over to Graham Brawn who successfully finished in front.
I’m not sure whether nerves caused Bob’s problem or his opposition got to him.
He was seen eating a chocolate cup cake before the race and the pharmacy did sell out of Laxettes the day before. We will probably never know.

BOWLS CHALLENGE

We held our inaugural bowls challenge recently when we took on the bunch of “cupcakes” at the Lorne Bowls Club, it was a good fun night but unfortunately we got a hiding.
I’m sure next year we will be better prepared and more competitive.
We will try and run it on a Sunday afternoon in February which will be more convenient for some of our out of town members.
We had a good turn out considering it was a cold Tuesday evening with about 40 bowlers competing for what has been titled the “Cupcake Cup”.

FADS NEWS

It looks like we are going to get two, possibly three FADS (fish attracting devices) off Lorne.
Recently myself and Ric Addison met with Victorian Fisheries Technical Officer, Brent Womersley, at our club house to discuss the timing and location of them.
They will be deployed in November and removed in April/May which will be perfect timing to hopefully attract Yellowtail Kingfish and possibly Mahi-Mahi.

RESCUE BOAT

The rescue boat isn’t looking very promising. I’ve tried every politician with authority to help us out but had no luck at all. I’ve given up for the time being but will give it another crack after the election.
On the Sunday of the Labour Day Long Weekend in March I broke down off Mt Defiance and called a fishing mate and fellow Commitee man Ric Addison to drive his boat around to assist.
A strong southerly wind had whipped up and Ric hit a big wave throwing him into the windscreen of his boat breaking his sternum and cracking several ribs.
None of our boats are suitable for ocean rescues and the only true rescue boats are at Apollo Bay and Torquay which are too far away to be practical.

POINT GREY REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE

It’s been a little while since we have provided an update on the LAAC building at the Point Grey Redevelopment but that’s not to say that nothing has been happening, to the contrary!
I think that when we last reported we reported that what was being presented was still not in accordance with the LAAC internal brief to the Architects and it was not acceptable to the LAAC building sub committee.
We were also told that the triangular building shape and form was not negotiable.
The previous cost plan that accompanied these plans indicated that the costs were well outside our budget.
Now the good news.
After many further long meetings with many marked up drawing provided by the committee, GORCC has finally accepted the preferred LAAC internal layout with some revisions to the triangular form of the building so as to provide more open light to the northern grassed external areas that will reduce the costs and hopefully bring the building back on budget.
There are some simplified finishes to the internals as well, to bring down the costs.
At this time, these documents are being prepared to go to GORCC’s Quantity Surveyors for re costing.
We have also been advised by GORCC that the necessary increased area for the LAAC building has been looked on favourably by the authorities.
Once the revised drawings and costings have been issued we will issue an update and display the plans within the club rooms.

SURF COAST SHIRE GRANT

Unfortunately the Surf Coast Shire did not include any funding for us within this years budget. $75,000 was included in last years forward budget but has now been removed.
We will continue to work with them to seek funding when the costs and timelines are better known.
The SCS has acknowledged their willingness to work with us in this regard.

COFFEE
Jason is currently taking a well earned break, we’ll let you know as soon as he’s back serving Lorne’s best tea and coffee.

MERCHANDISE 
We’ve got our winter stock in of Navy Blue Hoodies and Denim Blue Windcheaters.
We also have plenty of – Long and Short Sleeve T Shirts, Caps, Stubby Holders, Stickers and Gift Vouchers.

COURTESY BUS 
Our bus is now running Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Please be generous with your gold coin donations.
Ph 0498 031 234

BAIT
We have the biggest range and best value for money bait anywhere on the Great Ocean Road.
We stock, Pippies, Baby Cuttlefish, Squid, Prawns, Pilchard Blocks, Chopped Pilchards, Salted Pilchards and Berley Blocks.
Remember, members get a discount.

FISHING REPORT
The water temperature is hovering around 17 degrees which is quite warm for this time of year. The blue water disappeared a few weeks ago and was replaced by hazy green water and the snapper appeared with it.
The snapper fishing has been sensational with some Anglers reaching their bag limit in the first hour and most of them are above 40cm with some 60cm specimens being landed.
King George Whiting are scarce and didn’t appear in big numbers again this year but east of us they are having one of the best seasons ever.
Good size flathead are still on the go but the real big ones have moved on.
There are plenty of schools of salmon busting up everywhere but can be hard to approach. Some days you can drive right up to them and other days they go down as soon as you get within a hundred metres.
There are still plenty of Blue Mackerel and Yakkas around and they have now been joined by small barracouta who love to bite your hooks and sinkers off.
The tackle shops must love them.
A few big Gummy Sharks have been coming in with an 18kg one landed recently.
As a by-catch when targeting snapper we have been getting lots of Nannygai and Swallowtail which are welcome as they are pretty good eating.
The Lorne Pier is performing well with reports of good catches of calamari, salmon, trevally, mullet, snapper and the odd whiting.

Cheers,

Keith Miller, Commodore

Thanks, once again to our Sponsors:-

BENDIGO COMMUNITY BANK LORNE

LORNE CONCRETING – Tom Dawson

ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL PLANNING – Peter Ryan

FOODWORKS LORNE

HILLEC ELECTRICAL SERVICES – Steve Hill

KEANE CONTRACTING BRICK/BLOCK and SCAFFOLDING – Gary Keane

LORNE BREAKDOWN and TOWING – Paul and Maxine Spizzica

LORNE HARDWARE and LEISURE – Ken and Chic Hosking

GREAT OCEAN ROAD REAL ESTATE

GREAT OCEAN ROAD CONSTRUCTIONS – Luke Norton and Andy Little

LIVEWIRE PARK – Chris and Luke Nisbet

PETER WHEALE LANDSCAPES – Pete Wheal

RIORDAN FUELS – Jim Riordan

SURFCOAST GARDENING – Kerry Webster & Rob Dalziel

TRICKEY BROTHERS – Boe and Shane Trickey

WESTERN INSURANCE BROKERS COLAC