Fly the flag and celebrate

By Jeremy Sollars

Stanthorpe will celebrate Australia Day at Weeroona Park and the Stanthorpe Australia Day Committee has put together a great program of family-friendly activities, so there will be a hive of activity starting as early as 6.30am and continuing on through to 8pm.
The day will kick off bright and early at 6.30am with the Southern Downs Tri Club’s popular family triathlon, and the first battle off the blocks at 7am.
“The triathlon is a great opportunity for all ages to have a go as there are two courses including one for juniors under 12,” said Mayor Tracy Dobie.
The open tri course comprises 400m swim, 10km cycle and 3.5km run.
The junior (under 12) tri course comprises 100m swim, 4km cycle and 1km run.
Entry forms are available from the Stanthorpe Pool, Council’s Community contact centres in Stanthorpe and Warwick, and from Redback Cycles and Creed and Lang in Warwick.
The Mercantile Relay at noon will see many family rivals being joined by groups of friends and community teams to contest the Camille Cantrell Cup.
All ages can contest the relay with handicapping making the relay very interesting to watch, with no one being able to predict a winner. This event is all about swimming consistent times over the number of laps needed to eliminate the other teams.
The Stanthorpe Pool will have free entry from 2pm and this coincides with the start of the main celebratory activities and entertainment in Weeroona Park.
The formal part of the day will start at 3.45pm and includes flag raising, a citizenship ceremony, Australia Day messages and the southern region Australia Day awards ceremony.
The good old favourites of billy boiling, chainsaw races and woodchops will be joined by Kent Saddlery’s whip cracking and some face painting and art and craft activities for kids.
The park will have refreshments and food available and celebrations will continue on into the evening with live entertainment from our talented locals and band Speak Easy.