Thongs fly and community spirit soars at Australia Day event

HUNDREDS of people braved scorching temperatures to celebrate Australia Day with a free family fun day at Lismore City Bowling Club on Monday.

Attendees enjoyed a wide range of activities, including thong throwing, barefoot bowls, face painting by children’s entertainer Polly Esta, a Wild Rangers animal show and live music by the Cath Simes Band.

A sausage sizzle, lamingtons and snow cones were also on offer at the event, which was organised by the Rotary Club of Lismore Networking.

“It was a very successful day despite the extreme heat,” the club’s Gae Ferris said.

 

“Fortunately we had entertainment in the clubhouse, which is air conditioned. The Wild Rangers, who have come down from the Gold Coast the last two years, had the reptiles inside because they didn’t want them to get heat stressed outside.

“And we had marquees over the thong throwing and face painting.”

Winners of the thong-throwing competition received family passes to Lismore Memorial Baths.

The event, sponsored by the National Australia Day Council, also supported local businesses, with sausages supplied by Brad’s Butchery and bread and onions from Farmer Charlie’s.

 

“It’s great to hold a free family community event to get people together and have some fun and celebrate why we love being in Australia and being Australians,” Ferris said.

“It’s all about the community connection really.”

Celebrations continued across the long weekend at Hotel Lismore, which hosted three days of live music. Luke Vassella performed on Friday, Tubed Radio Band on Saturday, and The Cath Simes Band on Sunday.