Loch’s 24-hour marathon of fun

YOU know you are buggered when you collapse into the couch and cannot summon the energy to scoff at reality TV (...celebrity, get me out of here).

After 24-hours of Table Tennis across January 25 and 26, “we were done”.

Special mention to Peter and Heather Miller in the canteen and Daryl Smith as co-host.

Many others did big shifts to make things run smoothly.

The Poowong Loch Cricket Club, the Woodleigh/Kernot community and the 24 Table Tennis teams joined as one to make the event both successful and unique, and increase the awareness and importance of activity, men’s health, and the general well-being of the community.

Perhaps the spectre of COVID, actual and perceived, and the heat, might have kept the crowds away, but the participants and their supporters created their own atmosphere of goodwill, good fun and camaraderie.

Only one team withdrew due to COVID, and the facility at the Loch Memorial Reserve was presented in immaculate condition.

Twenty-four teams of table tennis players participated. .

Some showed great skill, some went to great effort to take themselves out of their comfort zone at ridiculously small hours of the night.

Some called in on their way home from other late-night activities.

The Nyora Cricket Club cancelled training so they could participate.

Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien capped it all off by including us in his busy Australia Day schedule.

Good game. He has history as a ranked Victorian table tennis player in his younger days.

We presented him with a commemorative bottle of wine, especially designed label, and all. Gippsland Wine Company were one of our most generous sponsors.

All table tennis teams received a substantial showbag after playing, all made possible by our local sponsors.

A $5000 incentive from Local Men Local Communities underpinned the financials of the event.

The 24 teams paid varying amounts to access the table, $200 for an hour of high profile, $50 for an hour in the middle of the night.

Many individuals made donations.

The canteen made food and drink available, and provided complimentary refreshment to every table tennis team, and our workforce.

Total profit will be in the vicinity of $5000.

The three beneficiaries, Poowong Loch Cricket Club (50%), the Woodleigh Hall (25%) and Beyond Blue (25%) are all very appreciative.

Profits do not necessarily have to be financial.

Participation in a team situation has huge benefits.

The benefits of being active are well documented.

Listening to guest speakers Tony Moon (the Loch Memorial Reserve and the memory of locals that went to war), and Dr. Phil Huguenin (men’s health and general community well-being) were messages well heard.

Cricket Club culture and camaraderie cannot be bought at the General Store.

The hard-working volunteers went home with increased pride, a sense of purpose, and inner satisfaction. .

Men’s mental health is now just a little more on the community agenda.

For a snapshot of the event, check out the Poowong Loch Cricket Club Facebook page.

Alex Dixon captured the “star” table tennis performance. 

See Matt Hancock and Jesse Patullo playing a very one-sided TT match, Logan Dixon on the ball machine and the musical talents of The Wing It Brothers.

No marathon report could leave out the contribution of the South Gippsland Shire Council and their employees.

Vicki Bradley, Barbara Look and Christine Legg (and others) went far beyond their expected duties. They encouraged the event right from the start.
And Mayor Davies and Cr Darakai (star) went further.

They bought two separate hours of table tennis.

The mayor’s hour gave us kudos, credibility and importance at the very beginning, the second gave us an evening performance that captured the spirit, potential and imagination of Cr. Darakai and the event.

The local sporting and community culture is enhanced by your collective efforts.

Well done everyone.