GMHBA Lorne Pier to Pub
Tuesday January 10, 2012
A record 5,000 swimmers took to the water at the 2012 GMHBA Lorne Pier to Pub over the weekend.
Cody Grimsey and Ellen Gandy capped off a fantastic 2012 event by taking out the open water swim titles.
An estimated 20,000 spectators flocked to the Lorne foreshore for the event including Premier Ted Baillieu and Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
Major sponsor GMHBA Health insurance were on site distributing a healthy option of free fruit, helium balloons for children and offering people the opportunity to enter a competition to win a $500 Anaconda voucher. The winner (announced on the day) was Jackie Buchanan from Brighton. Presenting her with the $500 voucher was GMHBA Executive Manager of Compliance & Company Secretary Michael Carroll.
GMHBA TO LAUNCH 5,000 INTO THE WATER AT THE 2012 GMHBA LORNE PIER TO PUB
Wednesday October 19, 2011
The Lorne Surf Life Saving Club is excited to welcome new naming rights sponsor GMHBA on board in 2012. The GMHBA Lorne Pier to Pub and Mountain to Surf is all about fitness, health and well-being and is the number one event of its kind in Australia. It is important to align with a company that reinforces the event’s ultimate goal of promoting and ensuring safety in the water at Lorne beach.
GMHBA Chief Executive Mark Valena said he was proud to be supporting Lorne Surf Life Saving Club’s volunteer network and the local community.
“GMHBA seeks to play an active role in improving the health and well-being of the many communities that we contribute to across Victoria,” Mr Valena said.
“This event is such a wonderful way for people to stay healthy and active. Our beginnings were as a not for profit health fund supporting the health of local families and we continue to work hard in order to offer this support to our members and their communities every day.”
Lorne Surf Life Saving Club President Neil Morarty said “Partnerships like this are so important to our club and other volunteer organisations and GMHBA should be congratulated and acknowledged for their support of the GMHBA Lorne Pier to Pub and Mountain to Surf weekend. Without their support we would simply not be able to put volunteer patrols on the beach, train our members and supply the equipment they need.”
GMHBA Lorne Pier to Pub Swim increases to 5,000
The GMHBA Lorne Pier to Pub swim will, this year, accept 5,000 swimmers (up from 4,200 entrants in 2011). The event has sold out every year for the past ten, so 2012 will see more people given the opportunity to secure their place in the event.
Lorne Surf Life Saving Club President Neil Morarty said the increase to 5,000 competitors in the GMHBA Lorne Pier to Pub swim ensured the event remained Australia’s largest ocean event. “This is the biggest year yet for the event, and we would especially like to welcome our new naming rights sponsor GMHBA, It’s exciting to announce a new partner and a big increase for one of Victoria’s favourite event weekends,” Mr Morarty said.
Australian 5km open water champion Codie Grimsey, who has recently moved to Victoria from QLD to continue his swimming career, is thrilled to be a part of the event. “I’ve heard it’s a fantastic event and can’t wait to get down there and swim it,” he said. “Even in Queensland it is famous! It’s great that the Lorne Surf Club are able to increase number so new people like me can get into the event.”
GMHBA Mountain to Surf Run now on Friday morning
The 2012 GMHBA Lorne Mountain to Surf Run will be held for the first time on the Friday morning (from 8.30am on January 6). The Lorne Surf Life Saving Club has erred on the side of caution, opting for a morning run to ensure cooler conditions for runners.
“After careful consideration, we have moved the GMHBA Lorne Mountain to Surf Run to Friday morning to ensure the comfort and safety of all runners taking part,” Mr Morarty said.
Entries open
Entries open for the GMHBA Lorne Pier to Pub and Mountain to Surf ballot on Monday October 31 and close on Monday November 14.
For more more information please visit - http://www.gmhba.com.au/web/pier-to-pub.aspx
Confused by the proposed means-testing of the PHI rebate?
The Australian Health Insurance Association (AHIA) has created an easy to understand explanation of the proposed changes to the private health insurance rebate on their ‘You Should Know’ website with an online video. Click here to view.
What means-testing the private health insurance rebate means for you.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
The Federal Government is planning to means-test the current private health insurance rebate, affecting many Australians who belong to a private health fund.
Since the introduction of the rebate in 1999, millions of Australians have benefited from the rebate, taking substantial pressure off the public health system.
Approval of the planned revisions to the system will potentially increase private health premiums and affect public hospital waiting lists.
Read more
To voice your concern, visit http://www.saveyourrebate.com.au
GMHBA Health Seminar Series
The GMHBA Health Seminar Series inaugural seminar was presented on Childhood Health and Wellbeing at the Four Points Sheraton Geelong on Thursday the 16th June.
GMHBA announces their average premium increase is in line with the industry
GMHBA Health Insurance today announced that member premiums will increase by an average of 5.68% as of 1 April 2011 being only slightly higher (0.11%) than the industry average.
read the GMHBA media release.
Greens health policy ignores benefits of Private Health Insurance Rebate
The Australian Health Insurance Association (AHIA) says the Australian Greens’ policy to abolish the Private Health Insurance Rebate will increase hospital waiting lists and increase the cost of Private Health Fund membership.
read the AHIA media release.
GMHBA confirms increased utilisation to result in premium increase
GMHBA Health Insurance announced that its member premiums will increase effective 1 April, 2010. Chief Executive Officer Mark Valena commented that "As a not-for-profit fund, GMHBA prides itself on its value for money products. Even with this increase, we believe our premiums remain well below comparable products from other health insurance funds. Whilst GMHBA is this year increasing premiums above that of the major funds, GMHBA's price positioning has consistently been below that of the major funds and we expect that our premiums should continue to remain significantly lower."
read more
Members smile at GMHBA
GMHBA Health Insurance received further confirmation of its leadership in customer service, with the win of another customer service award as the 'Best Health Insurer’ in the 'Smart Investor League of Exceptional Service' for the AFR Smart Investor magazine. GMHBA was also a finalist in the BRW ‘Excellence in Customer Service' category in 2008.
read more
Colac West Primary promotes healthy habits
Colac West Primary School hosted a healthy breakfast on Friday 20 November to promote the importance of a healthy breakfast to start the day. Over 150 students from grades prep to six enjoyed the healthy breakfast thanks to an initiative designed by the school to boost awareness about the importance of a daily nutritious breakfast.
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GMHBA continues growth in 75th year
In its 75th year of operation GMHBA has continued its growth and has weathered well the impacts of the global financial crisis including lower investment returns and increased unemployment. GMHBA reported a profit of $7.96 million over the past financial year despite investment returns which suffered market related losses.
read media release
GMHBA to celebrate 75th Anniversary
When a group of determined Geelong cement workers banded together in the late 1920s to negotiate with hospitals for free treatment, they could hardly have imagined what they would eventually create. An iconic community health fund was officially launched on August 13, 1934 to protect members from spiralling health costs. Since then, GMHBA has never looked back.
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