Lakes Entrance and Lake Tyers Beach enjoyed a wet weekend spark in business with the arrival of two Melbourne-based football clubs.
Eastern Football League powerhouse, Blackburn, coached by former local, Brendan Allen, and Western Region Football League division one outfit, Spotswood, helped fill accommodation, dine at cafes and restaurants and get a taste of what the region has to offer.
Together the clubs combined to bring around 250 players, staff and supporters to the area.
Blackburn completed a Saturday of training, the under 17 team taking on Lakes Entrance’s under 17s in a practice match while the senior group completed a gruelling beach session, and a skills workout at St Brendan’s Primary School before hitting the lakes for a water inflatable race.
The group continued on with a Peels cruise in the afternoon before dining at the Lakes Entrance Cricket
Clubrooms where Miriams catered for more than 150 people, which included local seafood.
Spotswood, while not bringing as many troops, were in the area for a different reason – helping out fire-affected farmers.
The Spotswood group spent both Saturday and Sunday helping Wairewa property owners, including Lakes Entrance Football Netball Club’s under 17 co-coach, Matt Zagami, rebuild fences and cleaning up properties that were decimated by bushfires on December 30. The club also supported other local farmers who were affected.
Lakes Entrance Action Development Association president, Bruce Hurley, was excited to see the town thriving, not only due to the football clubs visits, but also the many other tourists who have started to return to the area.
“Last weekend saw visitors returning to the town despite the overcast conditions and some rain. It was the best weekend since Australia Day,” he said. “It was pleasing to see ‘no vacancy’ signs up around the town. “The visitor numbers were boosted by a number of groups visiting Lakes including the Lionesses, the Blackburn Football Club and people staying in town to visit the Canni Creek races.”
“The marketing by tourist organisations that is aimed at encouraging tourists back to Lakes Entrance seems to be working.
“170 players and supporters from Blackburn Football Club visited Lakes Entrance to hold a football training camp and to support Lakes in its recovery from the devastating bushfires. Men’s, women’s and junior teams were part of the group.
“The visit was organised by coach, Brendan Allen, who is a former resident of the town.
“Members of the Rotary Club of Lakes Entrance welcomed the group on their arrival on Friday night.”
IMAGE: Metropolitan footballers from Spotswood Football Club helped Wairewa farmers rebuild fences and clean up properties on Saturday following the devastating bushfires that ripped through the area on December 30. PICTURED: Spotswood player and former local, Jason Marks, coach, Anthony Eames, and captain David Iaccarino, with Grant Warfe and Wairewa vegetable farmer, Matt Zagami. K142-72
