Thousands of people travel each year to spend their Easter long weekend in Sunraysia by the Murray River. Every man and their dog make their way to the Mildura CBD for the Show and Shine on Good Friday, ahead of spending the weekend at various events with friends and family. For rev-heads it’s paradise, they can split their time between the motorbikes, drags or at the Timmis Speedway. For those not interested in motorsport but still looking to have an action packed weekend, the choice is endless. What can we expect this Easter long weekend and when did Sunraysia become the place to be? Caitlyn Morgan finds out.
Pictures: Carmel Zaccone and Louise Barker.
SPORTING events are a prominent feature of Easter in Sunraysia but has that always been the case?
According to Mildura & District Historical Society president Glenn Miller it has, with sporting events in Sunraysia during the Easter long weekend starting almost immediately after the town was established in 1887.
“Easter Saturday, March 31, 1888 was the first sporting event in Mildura. While the population was tiny people came together for a competition between Mildura and Wentworth for a footy match, cricket match and a tug of war,” he says.
Glenn says the introduction of sport to Sunraysia in 1888 was one of two incredibly “memorable” historic Easter events.
“On Easter Saturday, April 18, 1981 we had the famous Riot Act read by (former mayor) Roy Burr,” Glenn says.Written up in the Sunraysia Daily on April 20 was: The Riot Act was read to a crowd of drag race fanatics at Mildura on Saturday night.
More than 30 police moved into the intersection of Deakin Avenue and Eighth Street where several hundred young people had earlier threatened police.
The night before, drag cars used the traffic lights at intersection as signals to start drag races across Eighth Street.
Reading of the Riot Act virtually broke up a night of hectic activity for police in which they arrested 82 men and two women on a variety of charges.
Because of Friday night’s trouble, extra police were rushed to Mildura on Saturday.
“Published the next day was more information; Councilor Burr said it was the first time the act had been read in Mildura and would become part of the district history,” Glenn says.
“For a long time Easter has been the most popular tourist time in Mildura and probably still is.
“For many, many years the rowing regatta was a popular sporting activity during the Easter long weekend but what has always brought tourists to Sunraysia is the river and the weather, nobody can complain about either.”
What draws the crowds
WHILE sporting events have been an important aspect of Easter in Sunraysia, tourism councillor Mark Eckel remembers a time when Easter was more focused on “simpler pleasures”.
“I would often come here to visit my grandparents while growing up and I don’t remember it being anywhere near as big as it is today,” he says.
“Back in my era people came to Mildura for the simpler things, like the weather and of course poker machines over the border were big back then with no poker machines in Victoria.
“Mildura used to be a family destination with all of the family attractions, including Humpty Dumpty, Dolls on the Avenue and small art galleries.
“It was really a family destination. These days we have to move with the times and people want to be entertained more these days and we are now nearly the regional capital in Australia for motorsports and river sports.”
Mark says it was the early to mid 1990s that Sunraysia became a rev-head paradise during Easter.
“All of the council brought about this motorsports weekend and have everybody promote it as a rev-head weekend,” he says.
“You have the ski club, powerboats, bikes, the cars all comes together under the one umbrella.
“We are very lucky because we are geographically placed from Melbourne and Adelaide, people don’t have to travel large distances and with our daily flights, transport links except for the train are a lot better these days.”
Mark says while motorsport did bring a large crowd to the region, the Murray River should not be forgotten.
“We have no doubt the best riverfront along the Murray, we are never without water. People can trust we have a large river and it gives people the chance to get away from the pressures of city living,” he says.
“Easter is our biggest tourist time of the year, as far as accommodation and restaurateurs are considered, it’s a time they can really make some money.”
What to expect this weekend
EASTER in Sunraysia begins with the Good Friday Show and Shine.
Attracting thousands each year, the Good Friday Show and Shine launches the mega Easter Power Sports weekend, comprising of four sporting clubs who run competitions over the long weekend including Mildura Ski Club, Sunraysia Drag Racing Association, Timmis Speedway and Mildura Motorcycle Club.
Showcasing the best of the best, people will have the chance to get up close to the machinery and meet competitors before the action begins on Saturday.
There will also be plenty of entertainment for the family including a jumping castle, face painting and shopping.
If motorsporting events doesn’t tickle your fancy, the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens is open from Friday with a range of activities.
The Magenta Artists Art and Photography Show is open all weekend, attracting entries from across Australia each year.
Connecting people to art is the theme of this year’s show. The annual Easter event will be held in the Shearing Shed and will display a variety of art categories including paintings, digital art and photography.
On Saturday enjoy a delicious breakfast cooked by Botanica while enjoying the serenity of the gardens that are changing in colour as the season changes.
Other events to keep you busy this weekend include the Riverfront Boutique Market and Farmers Market, Australian Mounted Games Association, Mildura Easter Tennis Tournament, Psyche Bend Pumping Station Running Day and the Wentworth Junction Easter Garage Sale.
