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Top Blue toast of the town

Sunday session: Tongala publican Kelvin Walsh and his AFL star great nephew, Sam, serve an overflowing bar at Sunday’s official re-opening event. Walsh drew a full house for the launch, with people travelling from throughout the region to rub shoulders with the Carlton running machine.
Back in business: Sam Walsh cuts the ribbon to officially re-open the Tongala pub, with master of ceremonies and 62-year resident of the town Ron “Spud’’ Florence, pub owners Sue and Kelvin Walsh, and Sam’s grandfather Peter, who is Kelvin’s brother.
Old dark navy blues: Even one man band, Ricki Lee, joined in the Carlton theme of the afternoon as a song familiar to most Tongala residents — We Are The Navy Blues — was the number one hit.
Sam’s signature: Walsh was in great demand for selfies, autographs and conversation, the Carlton star who had turned 22 only a day earlier knocking no-one back in a jam-packed two hours. He provided Tongala’s Lorraine Cooke with autographs for her grandchildren, Ashton, Evie and Harry — part of the Carlton-mad Gillie family, including parents Josh and Nicole. They were in Geelong on school holidays and missed the reigning Blues’ best and fairest player visit.
Life-long supporter: Stanhope’s Gary Rout has been following Carlton since he was a boy, following in the footsteps of his mother and aunt, the latter who lived in Cardigan St, Carlton. He is shares in a horse — Maccas Doc — with the pub owners, Sue and Kelvin Walsh, named in honour of grandson Mackenzie (Macca) and Kelvin’s nickname (Doc).
Family reunion: Sam Walsh (centre), with extended family members (from left) Mackenzie Cowley, Ryley Cowley, Hayley Walsh and Connor Cowley. Sam was among friends at the pub re-opening as several of the Hammond family, another Cobden (where Sam Walsh grew up) family which has relocated to Tongala, were also at the event.
True blue: Rick and Lisa Volpi travelled from Gisborne to attend the opening, Rick a life-long supporter of the club and — in his adult years — a player sponsor. He is particularly close with Walsh’s housemate, Matt Kennedy, who has he sponsored since his arrival to Carlton in 2018. Lisa grew in the area, part of the well-known Rathbone family. More about their special bond with Kennedy in the attached story.

Carlton AFL superstar Sam Walsh was the “Toast of Tongala’’ on Sunday when he played the lead role in the re-opening of the town’s hotel — owned by Great-Uncle and Aunt, Kelvin and Sue Walsh.

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