Story submitted by: Robyn Olsen

Membership number: 21769

I have been going to watch the Cats play since 1957.

I remember the days when you lined up at Kardinia Park for finals tickets.

When it was finals time, my sister and I would take a day off school to get up near the front of the line for tickets.

Our aunty, who was a Geelong member, would come and meet us at Kardinia Park after her business had closed for the day.

We would then camp the night out the front of the main grandstand.

I remember it being a carnival atmosphere, with fires going to keep warm and lots of shared stories and food.

Complete strangers became good friends by the time the morning arrived to buy the much-wanted finals tickets.

Thanks to getting in the queue early, I was fortunate to attend the 1963 Grand Final in which the mighty Cats defeated Hawthorn.

When we came back to Geelong that night, the streets were all in party mode.

I was 10 years old at the time and it was so exciting.

Since then, I have had so many great times following Geelong.

Go Cats!