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President’s Tan Talk – August 2025
The August Tan Time Trial provided the opportunity for VRR members and friends to acknowledge and celebrate the life of Peter Nicoll, a much-loved and appreciated VRR Life Member and volunteer who passed away recently after illness. Peter ran more than 100 8k Tans and more than 100 4k Tans before volunteering at Tan Time Trials and VRR fun runs for many years. Fellow running times recorder Graham Prossor painted a delightful ‘word picture’ of Pete, with Adri Leening, very (very) long-time friend of Pete’s reflecting on his multiple connections with Pete over decades.
In valuing Pete’s significant efforts for VRR members it was his genuine care, warmth and good humour that was much remarked on, including his care for dogs! Many stories were shared over a cuppa after a run, as we acknowledged one of those people who have made Victorian Road Runners what it is.
See photos and Rod Opie’s great reflection from circa 2016 below, that captures the mood, and Pete’s role in it.
In other news we welcomed some TTT first-timers, and congratulated Christine Oehr, recently back from France, on 100 Tan Time Trials, adding to the family total with Tarquin, Lucy and Alice.
See you next month,
Michael Kennedy
VRR President |
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Before the start of the August TTT the club took the opportunity to mark the passing of our esteemed member, Peter Nicoll.
I had the honour of saying a few words about Peter along with Adri Leening.
After a minute’s reflection we took a group photo of the attendees. |
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| L-R Adri Leening, Bill Noonan, Stuart White, Graham Prossor, Michael Kennedy |
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For the last few years, Peter and I have recorded the event results.
Peter also worked with Rod Opie processing race entries and tabulating results at VRR Fun Runs.
The piece below, written by Rod Opie records a typical conversation at a VRR fun run. |
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| Like the three wise monkeys, (L – R) Kevin Browne, Rod Opie & Peter Nicoll on the entry table at a VRR Fun Run at Jells Park. |
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| Reflections on an idyllic VRR Fun Run at Jells Park circa 2016
ROD: Morning Pete, how is that back of yours today?
PETE: Not good but I am not happy.
ROD: Why, what has happened?
PETE: I had to fight off a local who tried to pinch our hut booking. That bloke over there was very aggro.
It’s obviously going to be one of those days because we also have an unhappy runner who didn’t know the start time and got here early before we were ready.
ROD: Well, I’ve just met a guy who got lost getting here and couldn’t find the entry gate.
PETE: My guy also wants to know the course layout. I told him we still don’t know it yet. That went down well. Where is Mike when we need him?
ROD: Mike is laying out the three courses so he could be a while. Hope the courses don’t change too much. We lost a couple of runners last year and we had to wait ages to finalise the results.
PETE: Morning Eileen, how is Frank progressing?
EILEEN HELMERS: Silly old bugger should be home in bed, but you know him, he is out setting up one of the drink stations.
PETE: Can I get you a cup of tea?
EILEEN: Well, you could, but no one has seen the trailer. No trailer no urn.
ROD: Pete, there are another couple of runners wanting to fill out an entry form.
PETE: OK, we will have to set up without tables and chairs. And has anyone seen Doug to give Eileen the money tin? We will be murdered by Eileen if we have handed out running numbers (bibs) before payment.
ROD: Louise has done another great job with the numbers Pete. Let’s hope the runners know which event they are in!
PETE: You have got to be joking.
EILEEN: Pete the urn has arrived, but Kevin can’t get it going again. Anyone got any matches?
PETE: Don you shouldn’t be carrying that heavy water bottle. Surely, we can afford a trolley and a new urn while we at it.
DON HAMPSHIRE: We will need to have a committee meeting first so we can vote on it.
MANY RUNNERS TO PETE: Have you got a biro?
PETE: They are on the table with the entry forms.
MANY RUNNERS TO PETE: Where are the entry forms?
PETE: They are on the table with the biros.
MANY RUNNERS TO PETE: Have you got any pins to attach my running number?
PETE: They are right in front of you.
MANY RUNNERS TO PETE: Do I have to return them?
PETE: Heaven help us!
ROD: I won’t tell anyone you count the pins later, after auditing the biros!
ROD TO MANY RUNNERS: Have you paid Eileen after filling in your entry form?
MANY RUNNERS TO ROD: How much does the run cost, do you take Visa, what time does the run start and where is the starting line……………………………………??
PETE to ROD: OMG!
PETE: What is the name of that bloke standing over there?
ROD: The same name as I told you at the last fun run.
PETE: How good were Dusty and Shane Edwards last night against the Kangaroos.
ROD: Brilliant and thanks for the book on Royce Hart, you lent me. Was a great read.
PETE: Kevin was quite philosophical about the Kangaroos. He said they have as much chance of winning as the Tigers have of ever winning another premiership after their 1980 victory.
ROD: Looks like everyone is finally off and running.
PETE: Ah no, looks like another runner has just turned up and missed the start.
ROD: Give him a number and don’t tell Eileen and Doug. He can enter and pay later.
PETE: Can I now get you that cup of tea, Eileen?
EILEEN: Thanks Peter, I need one after that. We even put up a list of the cost of today’s runs but still the runners had no idea. Surely, we are getting too old for this.
PETE: Never! Look where we are; in the middle of Jells Park, the sun is shining, birds are singing beautiful dogs are everywhere and it’s not raining like at Princes Park.
ROD: You forgot to mention the mosquitos.
PETE: Who do I thank for these magnificent cakes?
ROD: Today cakes are from Sally, Eileen the fruit salad.
PETE: Has anyone seen Don?
ROD: Surely, he hasn’t gone to the wrong turn off again.
ROD: And so the morning goes on in this typical day in the life of Pete and Rod at a VRR Fun Run.
Pete was one of many volunteers but without his camaraderie, sense of humour, sometimes gruffness, but totally dependable and engaging approach this dysfunctional (to outside observers) group would not have delivered a great service to those who (like Pete in the past) love running.
Pete, I have missed our times at the Fun Runs especially the way we managed to turn chaos into well, more chaos. I will miss your amusing emails, chats about the players that should be dropped from the Tigers list, dropping off the Milestone plaques for you to take to the next Tan and being madly barked at by your pet dachshund, and the chats on your doorstep, once only to be told you had to go back inside to continue watching Dad’s Army repeats.
One of my lasting memories will be of watching you, Brian Toomey and Adri Leening shuffle off into the distance, chatting enthusiastically, determined to complete another Tan. |
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August 2025 Achievement Awards
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VRR Member, Christine Oehr reached the 100 TTT target at the August Tan.
Congratulations, Christine |
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| The photos below are just a few of the ones posted on facebook by the club photographer, Helen Myall (thanks heaps, Helen) |
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| Start of the August 2025 TTT |
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| We haven’t seen VRR member Helen Corcoris for a couple of months – welcome back Helen. |
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VRR Life Member Stuart White was at the August TTT to acknowledge his respect for Peter Nicoll’s contribution.
Note the VRR t-shirt – perhaps a genuine original collector’s item?
Great to see you, Stuart. |
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First time visitor to the VRR Tan Time Trials, Ross Nicholls, actually looks like he’s enjoying himself here.
By the finish though ……. |
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| VRR member #1, Greig McEwan powering up the ‘dog leg’ |
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Normally Sally Browne looks after the refreshments at our Tan events, but for a few months Sally has enlisted in the ‘Grey Nomad’ army and is currently serving at various locations around Australia.
Sally will be back soon.
In the meantime…..
Paul Trickey has generously volunteered to take on the refreshment role.
Thanks heaps, Paul. |
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| Paul Trickey (left) serving refreshments to Stephen Harris |
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We haven’t seen VRR members, Monish Swamy and his wife Kym at recent TTT’s BECAUSE they are now proud parents of a baby boy!
Their son was born in April and mother and baby are doing fine.
Monish said that it’s ‘exhausting and a big blessing’
We’re hoping to see them pushing a stroller around the Tan at one of events soon. |
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VRR LIFE MEMBERS
Stephen Barker, Kevin Browne*, Sally Browne, Tony Doran, Graham Edwards, Jenny Field, Peter Field, Vern Gerlach*, Peter Gunn*, Don Hampshire*, Eileen Helmers*, Frank Helmers*, Betty Horskins, Graeme Horskins, Mike Kennedy, Lynn Kisler, Greig McEwan, Ross Martin*, Vin Martin, John Morris, Helen Myall, Peter Nicoll*, Bill Noonan, Brian O’Dea, Rod Opie, Graham Prossor, Melissa Groves, Doug Stokes, Brian Toomey*, Stuart White, Robert Wilson, Judy Wines*, Tom Worrell* and Val Worrell.
(* dec) |
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Can you ask your running friends if they are receiving their email copy of Stride Out.
If they aren’t, can you get them to send me an email (gprossor@bigpond.net.au) asking to be put on the distribution list. |
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RUN CALENDAR AUSTRALIA
Run Calendar Australia now list VRR runs plus lots of other runs.
Visit their website at runcalendar.com.au
or tweet them – @runcalendarau |
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RUN CALENDAR AUSTRALIA
Run Calendar Australia now list VRR runs plus lots of other runs.
Visit their website at runcalendar.com.au
or tweet them – @runcalendarau |
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