For the love of Lorne – Local Legend’s lifetime devotion

Doug Stirling’s eyes give a characteristic twinkle as he clarifies his involvement with Lorne Men’s Shed.

At 103 prodigious years old his club-mates believe he might hold revered status as the oldest active men’s shed member in Australia, but the career electrician isn’t there for the tools.

“I’ve been a member of the Men’s Shed pretty well since it opened, but I’m only involved in the talkfests!” he says.

“We often have a presentation talk by somebody with a lot of influence and wonderful background knowledge of their profession, and generally speaking the cross-section of members themselves are very varied and because of that you get some very interesting people to sidle up to and have a good chat.”

Council’s recent naming of Doug Stirling as a Local Legend formalised what everyone in Lorne has known for years.

He was one of 20 individuals and organisations presented with Local Legends awards at the heart of National Volunteer Week.

The Second World War serviceman and father of three, whose eldest daughter will be turning 80 this year, has lived in the town all of his life, and contributed his lifetime to the town.

Aside from having wired half of its buildings through his long years as a sparkie – as well as Wye River, Fairhaven and Aireys Inlet – he has cared passionately for its present and future through involvements with 15 or more community organisations including the foreshore committee, 27 years, planning and preservation committee, 22 years, chamber of commerce, cemetery trust and historical society.

“I found that being a local when decisions are being made in relation to various things that were going to have a big impact on Lorne, I liked to have an input to make sure it was going the way it should,” he says.

He counts helping to preserve the town’s natural beauty and intercepting foreshore high-rise development among his most important achievements.

Doug lived at home independently to past 100 and though now residing at Lorne’s nursing home is still a familiar and much-loved figure around the town aboard his scooter, up for a yarn and sharing of gems from his famously acute memory.

At 103 years young his life advice is simple.

“Life’s good, and it all depends on your attitude towards it – that’s the thing.”

Alongside Doug Stirling, Surf Coast Shire’s 2026 Local Legends include a first two-time recipient, community house, sporting club and community café volunteers, a rehabilitation centre founder, and an entire community recognised for response to a flash flooding emergency.

Read about the 2026 Local Legends and their profound contributions to community life