Ocean Grove Voice - Your Local Newspaper

A Day in the Life of

Bernard Clancy

AUTHOR, playwright and journalist Bernard Clancy came to Ocean Grove nine years ago to begin an earnest pursuit of a PhD in beach bumming.

When I first saw the beach I was absolutely stunned. I mean, wow, what a perfect place to study. And at low tide, there is no better beach in the world for cricket.

And when the north wind blows, those perfect rollers! Wow again! My sons said “here, you silly old bugger, if you’re going to live at the beach, you’ve gotta have a boogie board” and handed over a still serviceable lump of foam son No.2 had used for years.

And so I began my lessons. Firstly I walked into John the Barber’s shop in the arcade and he disposed of my corporate Melbourne hairstyle and replaced it with what we used to call a crewcut which probably exposed more skin than I would have wished but what the hell, I thought, I don’t have to worry about image any more. Goodbye combover, hello sunscreen.

Indeed, that’s a very important first lesson in becoming a Beach Bum, PhD.  Out with the bag o’ fruit,  in with boardies, outrageous Ts and thongs, although I have been told that muscle singlets are best left to much younger blokes. Ahh, the freedom! I managed to find a pad close to both beach and main street so I learned to walk again, rather than put my bum in the car without even thinking. 

I joined Lonsdale Golf Club and later 13th Beach Golf Links, both fantastic golf clubs full of charming people and world class golf holes. Do we really know hereabouts how lucky we are?

Not often do I reflect on days past … 1968-69, the Army, national service, 12 months in Vietnam and a world gone mad. Home, sanity, a move to Melbourne to the sports desk at the old Sun News Pictorial in Melbourne.

They were fun days, when the paper was at its peak, working variously as sports and general sub editor, Design and Production Editor, Supplements Editor, Group Foreign Editor, working with blokes of the superb calibre of the Addy’s Simon Townley and one of the world’s great sports photographers, Clive Mackinnon, now in Point Lonsdale. 

But after 16 years it was time to move on and, with the help of Peter Thomas, now of Torquay, I began my own public relations and marketing company while at the same time working on my novel Best We Forget. I worked with small companies, large internationals, governments. I enjoyed one intense period as PR co-ordinator for Jeff Kennett’s privatisation of Victoria’s state owned enterprises, even though it damn near killed me.

I worked with accounting firms, showing them how to market themselves. Accountants, I discovered,  had exceptional skills but no idea how to “sell” them. My dad was one, and he was the same.

And occasionally I  got to go marlin and shark fishing with my mates from the Victorian Game Fishing Club based at Aspendale or stalk giant flathead in the shallows at beautiful Mallacoota. My brothers and sons are still trying to knock off my family flathead record, 12 lb. 5 oz.

And so to Ocean Grove. I signed up for membership with the Cats, bought seats in the then new Hickey Stand, and still love it. There’s Daryl and Narelle one side of us and and Ron and Sharon on the other. Nice people, Cats’ supporters. Mind you, my timing’s been pretty good there! I’ve been a Cats supporter since birth, even though I was born in Melbourne and spent most of my life in either Gippsland or Melbourne. My paternal grandfather, y’see, was a Geelong boy, St Augustine’s.

I joined the Geelong Vietnam Veterans sub-branch and met another great bunch of people. Then Ocean Grove/Barwon Heads Lions, which has a great mix of locals and “blow-ins” like me. Most importantly, I met my wonderful partner Christy, a Geelong girl from way back. 

I love the fact that the peaceful country atmosphere in Ocean Grove is a perfect place to write. I wrote my play here, Foxholes of the Mind. It premieres at La Mama Courthouse theatre in Carlton on November 10. Hopefully I’ll see you there one night over the following fortnight. Go to www.lamama.com.au for bookings.

I love the fact that Ocean Grove is growing. Without growth, without young people, a village loses its vibrancy and dies. It just seems to me to be incredibly selfish to placard against progress, because it’s a spike through the foot of youth.

A Day in the Life of

Robert Foster

I WAS born in Newcastle N.S.W and did my schooling at Melbourne Preston Tech, spending my holidays in Ocean Grove. I purchased in property down here in 1997 and then moved here permanently in 2005.

My first job was at Myer in Bourke St doing Window Displays and I was there from 1950 to 1954. I joined the National Theatre Dance school and then moved to Sydney in 1955 to study dance. I auditioned for the J.C. Williamsons show “Damn Yankees” in 1958 and the show ran for 6months.

In 1958 I also auditioned for “My Fair Lady” and the show ran for 5 years, during which time it toured every state in Australia & New Zealand.

I was the only dancer to complete the entire run of the show. Stuart Wagstaff (Henry Higgins) and I are the only two male members that completed the whole tour and are still alive. At the end of the 5 year season I was recalled to Melbourne for Noel Cowards “Sail” Away” for one month. I then left J.C. Williamsons and joined H.S.V.7 for Sunnyside Up & Variety 7.

It was here my life changed. I was asked to apply for the position of Display Manager at Myer Northland in 1970, then moved to Doncaster, opened Highpoint Knox City then to Myer Chadstone, then moved into their national office looking after their Fashion displays nationally. This involved openings of their new stores Myer Perth, Adelaide, Loganholme and Penrith. I finally retired in 1996, with the gold watch.

I then worked for myself doing presentations for Joanne Mercer, Mitre 10, Myer Bridal Fairs Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Ford on Hamilton Island, plus a New Year Party at Raffles Singapore. For four years running I did the Christmas displays for Robinsons in Singapore.

Now I am organising the My Fair Lady 50th anniversary reunion at Her Majesty’s Theatre, where I’ve been asked to find any of the original cast members for a reunion in the theatre in February. So far I have found with help from the grapevine over 40 members including Stuart Wagstaff and Bunty Turner. The website is www.hmt.com.

Now I’m really retired but I still help the odd store in Ocean Grove at Christmas, and am looking at fantasy gift wrapping classes at the Neighbourhood Centre, plus the odd paper art class.

I feel that Ocean Grove has a lack of change. The Christmas in the mall is a bit sad, with the left over star and banner from Geelong not being worth the effort - the same with the tree lights. I would close the Mall on weekends and make it an event city, particularly in the Autumn / Winter months

The only thing I would change with the Ocean Grove Voice would that it could be a size bigger, although it’s very handy to carry now, it’s free, very informative and the deliveries always seem to be on time.

If I had a shop in Ocean Grove I would probably do decorator pieces, as that’s what I have a knowledge of - most of my life has been decoration.

Anything, including the Country Target, that’s going to bring people to the Grove should be welcome. It creates competition and this makes other businesses lift their own games, which then improves the standards of the area.

My Favourite part of Ocean Grove is sitting on the balcony early evening with a very dry martini, watching the ships sail past with good friends. It’s really the people that make Ocean Grove. I lived in Melbourne for 18 years and didn’t know my neighbour, but here I think I know half the population.

If I had to live anywhere else, it would possibly be Singapore.

A Day in the Life of

Robert Foster

I WAS born in Newcastle N.S.W and did my schooling at Melbourne Preston Tech, spending my holidays in Ocean Grove. I purchased in property down here in 1997 and then moved here permanently in 2005.

My first job was at Myer in Bourke St doing Window Displays and I was there from 1950 to 1954. I joined the National Theatre Dance school and then moved to Sydney in 1955 to study dance. I auditioned for the J.C. Williamsons show “Damn Yankees” in 1958 and the show ran for 6months.

In 1958 I also auditioned for “My Fair Lady” and the show ran for 5 years, during which time it toured every state in Australia & New Zealand.

I was the only dancer to complete the entire run of the show. Stuart Wagstaff (Henry Higgins) and I are the only two male members that completed the whole tour and are still alive. At the end of the 5 year season I was recalled to Melbourne for Noel Cowards “Sail” Away” for one month. I then left J.C. Williamsons and joined H.S.V.7 for Sunnyside Up & Variety 7.

It was here my life changed. I was asked to apply for the position of Display Manager at Myer Northland in 1970, then moved to Doncaster, opened Highpoint Knox City then to Myer Chadstone, then moved into their national office looking after their Fashion displays nationally. This involved openings of their new stores Myer Perth, Adelaide, Loganholme and Penrith. I finally retired in 1996, with the gold watch.

I then worked for myself doing presentations for Joanne Mercer, Mitre 10, Myer Bridal Fairs Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Ford on Hamilton Island, plus a New Year Party at Raffles Singapore. For four years running I did the Christmas displays for Robinsons in Singapore.

Now I am organising the My Fair Lady 50th anniversary reunion at Her Majesty’s Theatre, where I’ve been asked to find any of the original cast members for a reunion in the theatre in February. So far I have found with help from the grapevine over 40 members including Stuart Wagstaff and Bunty Turner. The website is www.hmt.com.

Now I’m really retired but I still help the odd store in Ocean Grove at Christmas, and am looking at fantasy gift wrapping classes at the Neighbourhood Centre, plus the odd paper art class.

I feel that Ocean Grove has a lack of change. The Christmas in the mall is a bit sad, with the left over star and banner from Geelong not being worth the effort - the same with the tree lights. I would close the Mall on weekends and make it an event city, particularly in the Autumn / Winter months

The only thing I would change with the Ocean Grove Voice would that it could be a size bigger, although it’s very handy to carry now, it’s free, very informative and the deliveries always seem to be on time.

If I had a shop in Ocean Grove I would probably do decorator pieces, as that’s what I have a knowledge of - most of my life has been decoration.

Anything, including the Country Target, that’s going to bring people to the Grove should be welcome. It creates competition and this makes other businesses lift their own games, which then improves the standards of the area.

My Favourite part of Ocean Grove is sitting on the balcony early evening with a very dry martini, watching the ships sail past with good friends. It’s really the people that make Ocean Grove. I lived in Melbourne for 18 years and didn’t know my neighbour, but here I think I know half the population.

If I had to live anywhere else, it would possibly be Singapore.

A Day in the Life of

Robert Foster

I WAS born in Newcastle N.S.W and did my schooling at Melbourne Preston Tech, spending my holidays in Ocean Grove. I purchased in property down here in 1997 and then moved here permanently in 2005.

My first job was at Myer in Bourke St doing Window Displays and I was there from 1950 to 1954. I joined the National Theatre Dance school and then moved to Sydney in 1955 to study dance. I auditioned for the J.C. Williamsons show “Damn Yankees” in 1958 and the show ran for 6months.

In 1958 I also auditioned for “My Fair Lady” and the show ran for 5 years, during which time it toured every state in Australia & New Zealand.

I was the only dancer to complete the entire run of the show. Stuart Wagstaff (Henry Higgins) and I are the only two male members that completed the whole tour and are still alive. At the end of the 5 year season I was recalled to Melbourne for Noel Cowards “Sail” Away” for one month. I then left J.C. Williamsons and joined H.S.V.7 for Sunnyside Up & Variety 7.

It was here my life changed. I was asked to apply for the position of Display Manager at Myer Northland in 1970, then moved to Doncaster, opened Highpoint Knox City then to Myer Chadstone, then moved into their national office looking after their Fashion displays nationally. This involved openings of their new stores Myer Perth, Adelaide, Loganholme and Penrith. I finally retired in 1996, with the gold watch.

I then worked for myself doing presentations for Joanne Mercer, Mitre 10, Myer Bridal Fairs Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Ford on Hamilton Island, plus a New Year Party at Raffles Singapore. For four years running I did the Christmas displays for Robinsons in Singapore.

Now I am organising the My Fair Lady 50th anniversary reunion at Her Majesty’s Theatre, where I’ve been asked to find any of the original cast members for a reunion in the theatre in February. So far I have found with help from the grapevine over 40 members including Stuart Wagstaff and Bunty Turner. The website is www.hmt.com.

Now I’m really retired but I still help the odd store in Ocean Grove at Christmas, and am looking at fantasy gift wrapping classes at the Neighbourhood Centre, plus the odd paper art class.

I feel that Ocean Grove has a lack of change. The Christmas in the mall is a bit sad, with the left over star and banner from Geelong not being worth the effort - the same with the tree lights. I would close the Mall on weekends and make it an event city, particularly in the Autumn / Winter months

The only thing I would change with the Ocean Grove Voice would that it could be a size bigger, although it’s very handy to carry now, it’s free, very informative and the deliveries always seem to be on time.

If I had a shop in Ocean Grove I would probably do decorator pieces, as that’s what I have a knowledge of - most of my life has been decoration.

Anything, including the Country Target, that’s going to bring people to the Grove should be welcome. It creates competition and this makes other businesses lift their own games, which then improves the standards of the area.

My Favourite part of Ocean Grove is sitting on the balcony early evening with a very dry martini, watching the ships sail past with good friends. It’s really the people that make Ocean Grove. I lived in Melbourne for 18 years and didn’t know my neighbour, but here I think I know half the population.

If I had to live anywhere else, it would possibly be Singapore.

AUTHOR, playwright and journalist Bernard Clancy came to Ocean Grove nine years ago to begin an earnest pursuit of a PhD in beach bumming.

When I first saw the beach I was absolutely stunned. I mean, wow, what a perfect place to study. And at low tide, there is no better beach in the world for cricket.

And when the north wind blows, those perfect rollers! Wow again! My sons said “here, you silly old bugger, if you’re going to live at the beach, you’ve gotta have a boogie board” and handed over a still serviceable lump of foam son No.2 had used for years.

And so I began my lessons. Firstly I walked into John the Barber’s shop in the arcade and he disposed of my corporate Melbourne hairstyle and replaced it with what we used to call a crewcut which probably exposed more skin than I would have wished but what the hell, I thought, I don’t have to worry about image any more. Goodbye combover, hello sunscreen.

Indeed, that’s a very important first lesson in becoming a Beach Bum, PhD.  Out with the bag o’ fruit,  in with boardies, outrageous Ts and thongs, although I have been told that muscle singlets are best left to much younger blokes. Ahh, the freedom! I managed to find a pad close to both beach and main street so I learned to walk again, rather than put my bum in the car without even thinking. 

I joined Lonsdale Golf Club and later 13th Beach Golf Links, both fantastic golf clubs full of charming people and world class golf holes. Do we really know hereabouts how lucky we are?

Not often do I reflect on days past … 1968-69, the Army, national service, 12 months in Vietnam and a world gone mad. Home, sanity, a move to Melbourne to the sports desk at the old Sun News Pictorial in Melbourne.

They were fun days, when the paper was at its peak, working variously as sports and general sub editor, Design and Production Editor, Supplements Editor, Group Foreign Editor, working with blokes of the superb calibre of the Addy’s Simon Townley and one of the world’s great sports photographers, Clive Mackinnon, now in Point Lonsdale. 

But after 16 years it was time to move on and, with the help of Peter Thomas, now of Torquay, I began my own public relations and marketing company while at the same time working on my novel Best We Forget. I worked with small companies, large internationals, governments. I enjoyed one intense period as PR co-ordinator for Jeff Kennett’s privatisation of Victoria’s state owned enterprises, even though it damn near killed me.

I worked with accounting firms, showing them how to market themselves. Accountants, I discovered,  had exceptional skills but no idea how to “sell” them. My dad was one, and he was the same.

And occasionally I  got to go marlin and shark fishing with my mates from the Victorian Game Fishing Club based at Aspendale or stalk giant flathead in the shallows at beautiful Mallacoota. My brothers and sons are still trying to knock off my family flathead record, 12 lb. 5 oz.

And so to Ocean Grove. I signed up for membership with the Cats, bought seats in the then new Hickey Stand, and still love it. There’s Daryl and Narelle one side of us and and Ron and Sharon on the other. Nice people, Cats’ supporters. Mind you, my timing’s been pretty good there! I’ve been a Cats supporter since birth, even though I was born in Melbourne and spent most of my life in either Gippsland or Melbourne. My paternal grandfather, y’see, was a Geelong boy, St Augustine’s.

I joined the Geelong Vietnam Veterans sub-branch and met another great bunch of people. Then Ocean Grove/Barwon Heads Lions, which has a great mix of locals and “blow-ins” like me. Most importantly, I met my wonderful partner Christy, a Geelong girl from way back. 

I love the fact that the peaceful country atmosphere in Ocean Grove is a perfect place to write. I wrote my play here, Foxholes of the Mind. It premieres at La Mama Courthouse theatre in Carlton on November 10. Hopefully I’ll see you there one night over the following fortnight. Go to www.lamama.com.au for bookings.

I love the fact that Ocean Grove is growing. Without growth, without young people, a village loses its vibrancy and dies. It just seems to me to be incredibly selfish to placard against progress, because it’s a spike through the foot of youth.

A Day in the Life of

Robert Foster

I WAS born in Newcastle N.S.W and did my schooling at Melbourne Preston Tech, spending my holidays in Ocean Grove. I purchased in property down here in 1997 and then moved here permanently in 2005.

My first job was at Myer in Bourke St doing Window Displays and I was there from 1950 to 1954. I joined the National Theatre Dance school and then moved to Sydney in 1955 to study dance. I auditioned for the J.C. Williamsons show “Damn Yankees” in 1958 and the show ran for 6months.

In 1958 I also auditioned for “My Fair Lady” and the show ran for 5 years, during which time it toured every state in Australia & New Zealand.

I was the only dancer to complete the entire run of the show. Stuart Wagstaff (Henry Higgins) and I are the only two male members that completed the whole tour and are still alive. At the end of the 5 year season I was recalled to Melbourne for Noel Cowards “Sail” Away” for one month. I then left J.C. Williamsons and joined H.S.V.7 for Sunnyside Up & Variety 7.

It was here my life changed. I was asked to apply for the position of Display Manager at Myer Northland in 1970, then moved to Doncaster, opened Highpoint Knox City then to Myer Chadstone, then moved into their national office looking after their Fashion displays nationally. This involved openings of their new stores Myer Perth, Adelaide, Loganholme and Penrith. I finally retired in 1996, with the gold watch.

I then worked for myself doing presentations for Joanne Mercer, Mitre 10, Myer Bridal Fairs Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Ford on Hamilton Island, plus a New Year Party at Raffles Singapore. For four years running I did the Christmas displays for Robinsons in Singapore.

Now I am organising the My Fair Lady 50th anniversary reunion at Her Majesty’s Theatre, where I’ve been asked to find any of the original cast members for a reunion in the theatre in February. So far I have found with help from the grapevine over 40 members including Stuart Wagstaff and Bunty Turner. The website is www.hmt.com.

Now I’m really retired but I still help the odd store in Ocean Grove at Christmas, and am looking at fantasy gift wrapping classes at the Neighbourhood Centre, plus the odd paper art class.

I feel that Ocean Grove has a lack of change. The Christmas in the mall is a bit sad, with the left over star and banner from Geelong not being worth the effort - the same with the tree lights. I would close the Mall on weekends and make it an event city, particularly in the Autumn / Winter months

The only thing I would change with the Ocean Grove Voice would that it could be a size bigger, although it’s very handy to carry now, it’s free, very informative and the deliveries always seem to be on time.

If I had a shop in Ocean Grove I would probably do decorator pieces, as that’s what I have a knowledge of - most of my life has been decoration.

Anything, including the Country Target, that’s going to bring people to the Grove should be welcome. It creates competition and this makes other businesses lift their own games, which then improves the standards of the area.

My Favourite part of Ocean Grove is sitting on the balcony early evening with a very dry martini, watching the ships sail past with good friends. It’s really the people that make Ocean Grove. I lived in Melbourne for 18 years and didn’t know my neighbour, but here I think I know half the population.

If I had to live anywhere else, it would possibly be Singapore.

A Day in the Life of

John Minotti - Vicar of St Peter’s Ocean Grove and All Saints Barwon Heads

I FIRST visited Ocean Grove as a ten year old, on holidays with my parents. My two clearest memories are of a circus in Ocean Grove Park, and going to church in the little old wooden St. Peter’s. Little did I know that I would return in 1996 as the Anglican vicar of St. Peter’s Ocean Grove and All Saints Barwon Heads.
Working from my study in the church house (the Vicarage) is a great advantage. I am thirty seconds away from the back door of St. Peter’s, five minutes walk from the Terrace, and ten minutes from the beach.
While I don’t have a “typical” day (one of the pluses about being a minister is that no two days are the same), I usually get up at 6.30am, and after a shower, shave and breakfast, I settle down to a time of prayer and Bible reading – my prayers are wide ranging, for the world, the sick, the local community, etc.
After morning prayer I unlock the church. It is a great thing that we can leave the church open every day for people to use as a place of prayer, reflection, or just to sit quietly and feel the peace. One of the things I love most about Ocean Grove is that we have had very few instances of vandalism in all the years the church doors have been open.
My day might then involve visiting regional police stations as the police chaplain for the area from Lorne to Lara, and Geelong to Queenscliff; preparing for, and taking services in the two churches or at residential care centres; hospital or pastoral visiting; attending the many meetings that are necessary to ensure the smooth running of a church; preparing for, and conducting weddings and funerals.
At about 5pm each evening, I try to go for a walk to the beach, usually on my own, and sometimes with my wife Gayee. Occasionally I get the bike out and ride to Barwon Heads.
Most evenings are taken up with meetings or preparation in the study. Most ministers work six days a week, and I would average between 60-70 hours per week. My main interest outside the church is our family, and especially our granddaughters.
Gayee and I have been blessed to have lived in Ocean Grove for twelve years, and we intend to retire here. We love the community and being beside the sea. One of my great pleasures is to walk down President’s Avenue or Hodgson Street and watch a ship seemingly float past the end of the street.
The next week will be very busy as we prepare to celebrate Christmas. For me, presents and food play a minor part. Christmas is all about remembering the birth of Jesus Christ, who grew up to die on the cross so that we can have the opportunity of eternal life in God’s Kingdom.
That’s the Christian message in a nutshell, and it is what my “job” is all about - to share that message not only in the church, but also in the wider community.

A Day in the Life of
Leigh Middleton

I FIRST came to Ocean Grove in the late 60’s. A mate’s family had a pre-fab down here. I caught the train down to Geelong and hitched to Ocean Grove.
Back then the only surf shop was David Banes and Jimmy McKewan’s. David Furzer was making boards next to C J Keane’s in Orton Street, later to become Noahs’ Surfboard Factory. I have one of Furzer’s boards in my collection, it is a little 5’10”, single fin.
Collecting old boards is something I do only if they are of interest to me. Boards changed so fast it is interesting to be able to show people what we rode. Some shapes did not last very long (between 1967 and 1972) and are hard to find in good condition.
To me it’s about “if you don’t know where you have been then how do you know where you are going’. Trial and error was a great thing back then.
A typical week now is shape on Saturday, go down the coast and pick up repairs on Sunday, pick up any local repairs and start to glass late Monday morning.
The week is then spent going between dings and glassing and sanding, organising materials that may have come from interstate and talking to anyone that comes to the factory about my collection of photos, boards and magazines.
I don’t think I am a collector, just someone who does not throw anything away if it is to do with surfing. So a lot of things are laying around. I’ve only recently started to get things framed.
I was one of a group of people that started the 13th Beach Boardriders. Back then there were only young teenagers surfing. It is amazing how it has changed now to family groups. It has all been helped by the diversity of equipment available now.
I have surfed most of the North coast of NSW and QLD and had job offers in Noosa, worked in retail and been a sales rep for a few wetsuit and accessory companies. This year I got to Noosa four times.
But this (Ocean Grove) will always be home.