Baton passes to ‘unsporty’ runner

By Ed Merrison
COMMUNITY contributor Merril Brunt hardly describes herself as sporty, but she is enthusiastic about her baton relay stint for the Commonwealth Games.
Born in Lilydale and brought up in Yellingbo, Woori Yallock resident Ms Brunt has lived in the Yarra Valley all her life.
Ms Brunt has always been actively involved in the community and currently serves as school council president at Woori Yallock Primary School.
Her youngest daughter, Dian, is in grade six at the school, while her eldest, Kaleena, has finished at Woori and is preparing to start at Lilydale High School, where Ms Brunt was also a pupil.
Her daughters represent the third generation of the family to attend Woori Yallock, as Ms Brunt’s brother and three sisters followed in their father’s footsteps by enrolling at the school.
Ms Brunt has been president of the school council for five years, and describes school reunions for older alumni as one of the most important aspects of her post.
“You could say that’s my baby,” she said.
Though not sports mad, Ms Brunt intends to watch the Commonwealth Games on the television and has already started training on the rail trail for her baton-carrying duties.
The two people who nominated her have also been roped into training, but Ms Brunt is not going to risk rushing through the experience.
“I’ll be walking. There’s no way I’m running – it’s uphill,” she said of her designated 600m Don Road stretch between Curzon Avenue and Cornish Road.
Rather than sport, Ms Brunt’s interests lie in giving to the community.
“I have no real hobbies. Being able to help people is my main thing,” she said.
And helping people is what Ms Brunt does best, either in her role as a voluntary driver for Link in Yarra Junction, or in her role as cub leader, a role she has fulfilled for three years.
Ms Brunt currently oversees a group of about 15 cubs in Woori Yallock.
The group works through a program based on a different theme each term, and though the program for term one has yet to be finalised, Ms Brunt said it was sure to be set on a sporting theme to fit in with Melbourne 2006.
Ms Brunt also serves on the Sheep Station Creek Road Reserve committee of management, acting as secretary for almost nine years.
In doing so, she has followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, a founding member of the committee, which acts on behalf of Parks Victoria.
“We are very proudly putting in a new toilet block, which will please a lot of users of the ground,” she said.
Even though she said it felt surreal to be chosen for the role, Ms Brunt is nonetheless flattered by her inclusion.
“I feel there are other people in the community that should do it before me, but it’s very humbling and it’s such an honour,” she said.