This year marks Romsey Golf Club president Anthony Lakey’s 30th year as part of the Romsey community. He speaks with Serena Seyfort about his connection to the area.
How long have you been in Sunbury and Macedon Ranges?
I was born and raised on a farm on what used to be called Sunbury backroad. Then I taught all over the state in my career as a teacher. My wife Kathleen and I bought land in Romsey in 1986 and moved onto it in August 1988. We’ve been here ever since.
In what ways have you been involved with the local community?
In 1992, I was appointed principal of Hesket Primary School. I also taught at Sunbury West Primary School for a year, and was based at the Western school support centre for three years, working in the special education unit for the Sunbury and Gisborne area.
My son, Alex, now 27, and daughter, Jess, who is now 25, both went to Romsey Primary School then Kyneton Secondary College. We were very, very pleased with Kyneton.
I’ve been the president of Romsey Golf Club for the past five years, and just recently I’ve been involved in the new committee of management for the Romsey Rag.
Since my retirement in 2010, I’ve also become involved with Romsey Mechanics Institute. I’m the chairman of the committee. My wife Kathleen is the secretary. She’s also secretary of Lancefield Macedon Ranges Relay for Life committee, and she’s involved in Romsey Neighbourhood House.
What do you like about the area?
Romsey itself is a very pretty town. It’s got a beautiful main street and some lovely, lovely old buildings. Up until recently, it wasn’t very developed, and it was a very sleepy, quiet country town. We’re sort of turning it into a commuter town at the moment. But I think a lot of the people coming to Romsey are coming because they want to be in Romsey, not because the land is cheap or anything else. I think they want to be involved and have a marked effect on the township, which will be good for the town.
If you could change anything about the area, what would it be?
If I could turn back the clock, I’d keep all the railway lines from before 1956. It’s a real pity we lost all of those lines.
I also think it would be good if we got a pub back, where people can go and have a quiet drink and take the family down for a meal. All towns need something like that. We’re lucky – we’ve got some great little restaurants and cafes, but a pub is a pub, and it holds a special place in country towns.
We as a community need to have options for children when they get a bit older. All levels of government need to work to give youth something to do. There are a lot of children moving into the area, and they will grow up and need activity.
