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Sport

22 November, 2023

Heffernan honoured

A SPECIAL surprise was unveiled to celebrate 50 years since a barefoot Laurie Heffernan claimed a pair of wins at the Stawell Gift. A life-sized banner featuring a photo of the Terang native crossing the line at the 1973 Stawell Gift was unveiled at...

By wd-news

Congratulations: Terang Athletics Club legend Laurie Heffernan was surprised with a life-sized banner celebrating the 50-year anniversary of his barefoot victories at the Stawell Gift.
Congratulations: Terang Athletics Club legend Laurie Heffernan was surprised with a life-sized banner celebrating the 50-year anniversary of his barefoot victories at the Stawell Gift.

A SPECIAL surprise was unveiled to celebrate 50 years since a barefoot Laurie Heffernan claimed a pair of wins at the Stawell Gift.

A life-sized banner featuring a photo of the Terang native crossing the line at the 1973 Stawell Gift was unveiled at the Terang Recreation Reserve last week to celebrate the milestone.

The image will also feature on promotional material for the Terang Gift, which will draw hundreds to the recreation reserve on Sunday, December 3 from 11am.

Mr Heffernan said he was overwhelmed with the surprise, which his fellow Terang Athletic Club members and family had planned to honour the champion distance runner.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting it but that’s the way of the group,” he said.

“They do nice things for people, and I appreciate it.

“I probably shouldn’t be surprised because they go out of their way for others, but it’s an honour.”

Mr Heffernan said he could still vividly remember his victories at Stawell - which he notoriously ran barefoot in the days before lightweight running shoes became a common feature on the track.

The event ran over the long Easter weekend, where he would notch wins in the one-mile event on the Saturday and two-mile event on the Monday.

“I can’t remember the day before or day after, but I can remember the race like it was yesterday,” he said.

“I didn’t pass anyone for the first two or three laps but I kept the same pace up while everyone else slowed down.

“I ended up giving 200 metres start but ended up winning by the length of the straight, but with a lap and a half to go I hit the front and everyone started clapping, and all I could think was they don’t know how bad I feel - I was just hoping I didn’t collapse and embarrass myself.

“Over the last 50 years there has been so many people coming up to me to say they were there when I won.”

The banner at the Terang Recreation Reserve was familiar territory for Mr Heffernan as it was his training ground to prepare for races.

He trained six nights a week with his father, Bill, comprised of three easy nights and three hard nights.

“I’ve probably run around the reserve a couple hundred thousand times, and I’m still running around it now,” Mr Heffernan said.

Mr Heffernan remained a passionate supporter of athletics in his retirement from competition, coaching some of the region’s best young talent through the Terang Athletics Club.

“It’s a privilege to still be helping out the kids,” he said.

“I try to give back.

“I can see what they should be doing differently, but it all comes down to training.

“You’re not your best unless you’ve put in the work - you only get out what you put in.”

Terang Athletics Club president Ken Plummer, who joined fellow club members to unveil the surprise banner, congratulated Mr Heffernan on a lifetime of accomplishment.

“Laurie is a highly valued member of our community and our athletic club,” he said.

“Each Wednesday in terms one and four, Laurie trains local young athletes and is a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw on to assist them in areas such as fitness, technique and training methods.

“Laurie takes control of the electrical side at the Terang Gift, as well as assisting in preparing the track and attending all working bees and meetings to make the event a success.

“When the Victorian Athletic League (VAL) combined with our club, I love seeing the respect and awe the VAL give to Laurie – he is certainly well respected and is one of the favourite sons of the VAL, not only because of his success, but also due to the type of wonderful person he is.”

Mr Plummer said the list of accomplishments could not overshadow the person Mr Heffernan is as an affable, well-liked man who is generous with his time and able to relate positively to all.

“He is a mad Collingwood supporter and has a terrific sense of humour,” he said.

“The Terang Athletic Club is proud to commemorate our awesome club member Laurie Heffernan on his terrific input into our club and also on the 50th anniversary of his two wins at Stawell in 1973.”

With the Terang Gift set bring an action-packed day of racing to town next month, Mr Heffernan said he hoped to see the event continue its growth and attract a big crowd to town.

“It’s going to be great and getting bigger every year,” he said.

“We’d love to see people come along.

“People really enjoy seeing just how fast some of these athletes can run.

“There’s some runners who can cover 100 metres in ten seconds, and we’ve attracted some of the best 400 metre runners in Australia.”

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