Circuite de Savage
The idea of a Circuite de Savage was a masterstroke.
It offers nearly four kilometres of relatively flat walking, jogging or even cycling track for people of all ages and abilities – people wanting to improve their general health and fitness, people wanting to walk on their own, people wanting to jog with a partner or a friend, people who wish to de-stress, footballers and netballers preparing for the new season, people who walk with their pet(s), . . . it really is for everyone! Farming couples (and their families) even come into town to ‘do the circuit’.
Named after Evan Savage, the local councillor who pushed for its initial funding through the Corangamite Shire, the track is the symbol for the town’s strong health and fitness kick. With Cobdenhealth pro-active in promoting well-being programs to fend off the incidence of heart disease, district residents readily take up the opportunities to improve their health.
Pronounced ‘Sirkwee de Savarge’, the name of the loop sounds French in derivation for no good reason except the other alternative ‘Savage Circuit’ seemed a little bland and uncompromising. The chosen title sounds a bit classier, if you know what we mean!
And our Evan Savage is one classy unit. A Corangamite Shire councillor from 1999 to 2008, the local plumber has lived all his life, except the first two years, in Cobden. Born in 1959, he attended both the primary school and the technical school, served his apprenticeship under builder and plumber Jack Robinson in Camperdown, played football and cricket with Cobden teams and was president of the local Recreation Reserve.
As president from 1993 to 2002, Evan led the light tower construction campaign – you can see them from here – and he was instrumental in the construction of netball change-rooms and toilets, as well as the canteen extension. The lights and the netball projects were ahead of their time in Hampden FNL circles.
Evan was even responsible for bringing Mel Jones and the Australian Southern Star cricket girls to town in December 1998 to play the rampaging Cobden men’s team.
As a councillor, he was keen to advance subdivision of the industrial estate
and development of the Lake Cobden precinct amongst other projects across the Central South Ward.
Newly sealed and all-round lighting, the Circuite de Savage is a classy asset for the district with its direct link to the Camperdown-Cobden-Timboon Rail Trail being a huge advantage for users.
The Cobden Story plaques at various junctures along the track even give people the opportunity for rest-and- read time as they enjoy a relaxing or more strenuous stroll, run or ride!
