General News
15 April, 2026
Wow! President blown away with success
EARLY morning drizzle dampened the dust but not the crowd at Easter Monday’s Rheola Charity Carnival.
EARLY morning drizzle dampened the dust but not the crowd at Easter Monday’s Rheola Charity Carnival.
The first of more than 4000 people began arriving before 8am as the final drops in 4mm of sprinkling from the sky were falling.
Vintage tractors were unloaded off trucks ready to tackle a slightly damp track as the final pies were put in ovens to help feed the crowd and ladies of the district continued the time-honoured task of preparing lunches that would be sold a few hours later.
Charity carnival president Matt Catto said he had been blown away with the size of the crowd, equal to any seen in the event’s 153-year history.
“Did the rain put people off - no. Did the price of fuel stop people keeping up a tradition that has spanned the generations - no,” he said after the official opening.
“There’s only one word to describe today and that’s Wow.”
Mr Catto said the day’s success had been down to the hours of work by every volunteer in planning and preparing a day that honoured the traditions of good family fun in the country.
“We make tweaks every year but the recipe is still pretty much the same as it was in the 1870s,” he said.
“The carnival for families and the prices are for a family budget. People still appreciate and value the formula that has stood the test of time and shows country people know how to have fun without the expensive prices.”
Mr Catto said the number of cars and motorcycles in the Inglewood Car Club’s show and shine this year had been massive.
“Something like triple the number of last year I’ve been told. People loved wandering along row after row of these loved vehicles and talking to the owners,” he said.
“But most important of all, we’ve been raising money for the Inglewood and Dunolly hospitals and demonstrating that charity in our area is as generous as always.”
“Our carnival committee team is great and our sponsors terrific. All makes a Wow day.”
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