Make the Australia Day Hinterland Expo your priority on January 26
By Sonia Isaacs
THE long awaited Hinterland Expo is almost here, and local organisers are hoping the packed program of music, live entertainment, games and demonstrations combined with the opportunity to engage with an estimated 50 local clubs and organisations will ignite strong community interest and draw large crowds.
Division 5 Councillor, Winston Johnston, said the event was always a very successful day and a fantastic opportunity for local residents and Hinterland community members to discover the huge range of sporting groups, clubs and organisations that existed in and around Maleny and the surrounding areas.
Cr Johnston said the Expo on Friday, January 26 at the Maleny Showgrounds was a great way as a community to spend Australia Day.
“It’s always a very successful event that brings together most, if not all of our community associations and provides an excellent way for the community to connect with local organisations and each other in a fun day filled with stalls, games and with great prizes to be won,” Cr Johnston said.
Expo committee chair, Rick Vickers, said the long running event sponsored by the Maleny District and Recreation Club (MDRC) would have something that would appeal to everyone, and the community club showcase provided a great way for people of all ages to try their hand at something new or discover a new interest, hobby or sporting activity.
Mr Vickers said there was also great prizes to be won and he encouraged kids to enter the free ticket prize draws as well as the expo ‘passport draw’.
He said more information for both activities were available at the entrance stands.
“The expo passport is a really fun activity especially for kids that encourages them to visit as many stalls and activities as possible,” Mr Vickers said.
He said the idea was that kids could go around to each stall, try an activity or have a chat and then get a stamp for their ‘Passport to Maleny’. For the kids that were able to fill the majority of their passport there would be the 11.30am prize draw for some super cool prizes.
Mr Vickers said he was also hoping to entice both the local state and federal representatives to take part in the 9.15am gum boot throw depending on their other commitments.
“Both the Federal member for Fisher Andrew Wallace MP and our state MP Andrew Powell will be at the citizenship ceremony earlier in the morning so we are hoping to invite them both to stick around a bit longer at the expo and have a gum boot throw with us!” Mr Vickers laughed. The Hinterland Aussie Day Sport, Recreation and Service Club Expo runs from 9am-12.30pm, all welcome!
