Bill Armitage watches as his son Joel tackles Ironman Australia 2012.
TACKING Point resident, Bob Jones, reckons the Ironman Australia event is a 'good day out'.
And Mr Jones should know: he has a armchair view of the event from his front door.
"I just live on the corner here and I really enjoy this event," he said.
"This is just a good day out in the sun. I reckon they should definately keep this event here in Port Macquarie.
"And if residents plan their day there should be no worries at all."
Mr Jones wasn't particularly cheering for any one athlete but said he recognised them all as 'pretty good athletes'.
Just embrace it, says Bill Armitage
LONG-standing volunteer with Ironman Australia's Port Macquarie event, Bill Armitage, says the community should embrace the international event.
Mr Armitage, whose son Joel was participating, said the Ironman event was an important financial boon for the wider Hastings area.
"It does bring a lot of people to town," he said. "What is there, about 1000 athletes or more, plus their families or support crews?
"With communities around Australia all crying out for an event like this to come to their town, I think we have to embrace it a bit more. The flow-on effects are enormous."
Apart from supporting his son, Mr Armitage was also a long-serving volunteer as a bike rider who were responsible for 'draft-busting' riders and riding groups.