Bolt the surfboards onto the roof racks, wind down the windows, pump up the volume on the car stereo; we’re going surfing. But if the swell’s no good we’ll check out some scoreboards. Let’s start in Torquay (home ground of a bloke called Boak) and wind our way westward. Or, if you’re not a surfer ask the grandkids if they’d like to go on a drive.

 

Bellbrae is a hamlet halfway between Torquay and Anglesea. It’s tucked away but there’s a school, a cemetery, tennis courts, and a little footy ground. (“Poppa, I’m hungry…”)

 

Anglesea’s sports grounds are a turn-off on your left, just before you get to the main shops. (Or, for the Dangerfield family from nearby Moggs Creek, who have played at this ground over the years, a turn-off to the right just before you accelerate towards what the locals call ‘the mad mile’.)

 

Last I glimpsed the Lorne footy ground through the trees (“Is there a playground in Lorne, Poppa? Is there a beach? An ice-cream shop?”) I think The Kambouris Family Scoreboard had gone 21st century.

 

 

 

By the time you get to Apollo Bay you’ll be ready to stretch your legs. (“Poppa, I don’t think I should have had that chocolate ice-cream in Lorne…Or the strawberry milkshake…”). The Apollo Bay ground is between the caravan park and the beach.

 

 

 

Installed by Tecnovision.

“Poppa, are we there yet? How many more of these grounds? Do they have toilets? I’m busting.”

 

 

And, so, our little sojourn ends. Hopefully we can get to Portland one day. Not sure if there are any Ocean Road scoreboards after that. But we do have an Otways collection for you sometime down the road.

“Poppa, can we go home now? Please.”