Sport
14 November, 2024
Gift to honor veteran
THE Terang Gift will this year pay tribute to the town’s last surviving World War Two veteran, and the dedicated efforts members of the Terang Returned and Services League sub-branch (RSL) put in to supporting their community.
The Terang Athletic Club has announced the 800-metre event, from this year, will be named the ‘Terang RSL 800M’ in honour of the Terang RSL and its lengthy history in supporting veterans and their families, and keeping alive the memory of those who did not make it home from war.
Terang Athletics Club vice president Stephen O’Connor and president Ken Plummer visited the Terang RSL sub-branch hall last week to celebrate the news.
Plummer said the Terang Athletics Club had the idea to use the Terang Gift to help promote the great work clubs throughout the community were doing.
“At one of our committee meetings we were looking at involving, and celebrating, the community,” he said.
“We thought a great idea was, with all the work the Terang RSL do with both its members and our community, that we would name one of our races after the sub-branch.
“We had a bit of a to-and-fro and thought the 800 metres, from this year, will now be known as the Terang RSL 800 metres.
“That will go on year after year.”
Plummer said he had originally approached the RSL to gauge its interest in the idea, which was met with immediate appreciation.
The Terang Athletic Club then began looking at ways to expand the idea from a publicity perspective – it’s great to have the race named after the RSL, but they believed more could be done to draw attention to the work the RSL does.
From there, the idea came about to have Terang’s Len Pomeroy serve as the face of this year’s Terang Gift.
Pomeroy last year celebrated his 100th birthday, and is the last surviving World War Two member.
“We’ve had so many veterans in our district who have come through and been part of the RSL, but we thought the best way to showcase the great work they do is though Len,” Plummer said.
“Len, being a bit of a mature gentleman, would be the perfect face of the inaugural Terang RSL 800M.
“We’re compiling a bit of information on Len, and there will be an inset in to our program which highlights not only him, but the great work the RSL does.
“We’re quite excited because Terang RSL member Pam Bell and Stephen O’Connor have been working on that.
“Our committee is excited, and we’re looking forward to the RSL members presenting the sashes and prizes on the day.”
Terang Returned and Services League sub-branch president Terry Fidge said members of the RSL were proud to accept the offer.
“It’s a great honour to have the RSL recognised in such an important event around Terang,” he said.
“We’re very grateful, and happy to have been selected to be recognised through this particular race.
“We’re particularly proud to have Len involved, as our sole surviving World War Two veteran, and to have him involved is fantastic.
“We look forward to the day.”
The Terang Gift will race in to town on Sunday, December 1 from 11am at the Terang Recreation Reserve.
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