Community
21 March, 2025
Andy Belyea honoured
THE Camperdown Pool Committee of Management has paid tribute to a long-time patron of the pool recently, presenting his wife with a plaque over the Labour Day long weekend.
The committee has recently installed a new blue seat at the pool to honour long-time friend of the pool Andy Belyea, who passed away last year.
Corangamite Shire Council provided $500 in funding for the seat through its Ready Now Grants program in the June-October 2024 quarter, with the pool committee also funding the seat.
Camperdown Pool Committee of Management president Ruth Barber said the seat was a way to honour him as an “avid patron” of the pool.
“He never missed a day, and he loved the pool, the people he got to meet, and the lifeguards – he was always very supportive of their endeavours,” he said.
“Through the council’s Ready Now Grants program, we were able to purchase a new seat because Andy was a practical person – a new blue chair patrons could sit on.
“We presented a plaque to his wife Maree (Belyea), and the plaque was put on the chair and it’ll be there for many years to come.
“It’s a really proud thing of the committee to be able to do that.
“He was such a great advocate to the pool, so it was great to be able to honour the person he was.”
The plaque was secured to the chair following the presentation and reads ‘In fondest memory of our great friend and support Andy Belyea 1944-2024’.
Mrs Belyea said she is “proud and pleased” to have her husband honoured in this way.
“The family of Andy are both proud and humbled that the Pool Committee have seen fit to honour him,” she said.
“Andy loved going to the pool for exercise, but the friendships and fun he had with many young life guards and fellow patrons over the years greatly added to his enjoyment.
“He championed the pool facilities and its excellent staff at every opportunity.
“I found it very touching that the committee felt they would like to do that to honour Andy.”
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