By Sonia Isaacs
Hinterland community club showcase returns to Maleny showgrounds in 2024
THE Australia Day Hinterland Expo will once again return to its original format at the Maleny Showgrounds, with organisers hoping to attract large crowds to the community club showcase and family fun day.
Hosted by the Maleny District Sport and Recreation Club (MDSRC), this will be the first time since 2020 that the Aussie Day Expo will be firing up again to its full capacity with all activities and stallholders in the one location at the Maleny Showgrounds.
MDRSC’s Rick Vickers , said it felt fantastic to be returning to showgrounds in 2024, and he said organisers were hoping to attract over 1000 visitors to the Friday January 26 event. He said the morning would be jam packed with around 50 community clubs and organisations showcasing a vast array of local sport, recreation and service groups for people to join in, get active and get involved with.
Rick said the morning will kick off at 7am with the Apex Breakfast followed by the Flag Raising Ceremony at TS CENTAUR and New Citizens’ Ceremony at 8.15am .
This will then be followed by the official start of the Australia Day Expo festivities, family games and activities from 9am-12.30pm.
“The expo is all about fun and finding out more about what our wonderful local organisations, sporting groups and clubs can offer, and what else is available for people and families to make the most of their leisure time and new ways and opportunities to become involved with their community here in the Hinterland,” Rick said.
Free entry for all to the Aussie Day Expo means everybody can come along and join in and enjoy some great traditional style games and age category events such as ‘old school’ egg and spoon races, the popular gumboot throw, thong relay, and tug-o- war.
For those feeling more adventurous, be challenged in the 50m obstacle race or have a go and try your hand at croquet, netball, tennis,or pickleball.
There will be live performances from the local Ukelele group and Maleny Singers, as well as demonstrations of tai chi and taekwondo. Volunteers from the Rural Fire Service will be in action with their truck, and the event will feature many interesting displays and information on offer.
Kids are invited to enter the free ticket prize draw with a heap of cool prizes to be won, as well as the ‘Expo Passport Draw’ with details to both competitions at the event entry stands.