Set to savour the event

By Kath Gannaway
MILLGROVE Residents Action Group member Robert Hendy is the second in the Mail’s Queen’s Baton Relay runner profiles in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games stop-over in Healesville next February.
Mr Hendy, one of 16 Yarra Ranges and two Marysville community runners selected by Telstra to be part of the 50 day journey across Australia, will draw on a life-time of athletic competition when he receives the baton in Healesville.
Mr Hendy’s involvement in athletics began at the age of 19 and has represented Australia at international competitions four times between 1973 and 1977.
Among numerous achievements were when he won gold in the 3000 metre steeplechase in the Pacific International Games in Canada in 1973, becoming a finalist in the same event and the 5000 metres in the Christchurch Commonwealth Games in 1974, eight Victorian Steeplechase titles and NSW and SA Steeple and 1500 titles in 1975.
Mr Hendy also placed in three consecutive Olympic selection trials, 1968, 1972 and 1976 and, most recently, won the World Masters Championship in the 3000 metres steeplechase in 1994.
After five years as a regular holiday-maker in Warburton, Mr Hendy and his wife, Denise, moved to Millgrove two and a half years ago.
“We just fell in love with this area. It’s a beautiful area to run around, with the bike track and the mountains,” he said.
Before taking on his current role as a project manager for not-for-profit groups he worked for 16 years in pastoral, ministering and personal counselling work.
Mr Hendy said he is thrilled to have been selected, particularly after having competed in the Commonwealth Games in 1974.
Although he is experienced and fit enough to give his section of the relay a real burst of speed, he says he will be making sure he doesn’t let the experience pass too quickly.
“Friends who run in the Olympic torch relay have told me not to run too fast, to just savour the moment,” he said, quipping, “I might even go into slow motion.”
More than 15,600 nominations were received by Telstra for Community Runner positions specifically allocated to recognise and reward local heroes and unsung residents for their inspiring contributions.