The Aireys Fair took out Community Event of the Year at the Surf Coast Shire\u2019s Australia Day Awards last month, knocking off five popular nominees to score the title.<\/p>\n
An army of contributors bring the much-loved event to life on Melbourne Cup weekend each year, raising tens of thousands of dollars for Aireys Inlet Primary School programs and equipment with each instalment.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s proceeds were put towards the introduction of a Bluearth Foundation program which encourages physical activity and mindfulness for the whole school, as well as contribute to costs of excursions, literacy and art supplies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes Aireys Fair so special is that it has that community feel, everyone is so inviting and friendly, and it has that real Australian feel where everyone mucks in together,\u201d joint fair co-ordinator Julia Clarke said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such a fun event, and it\u2019s pretty special that people come that far to enjoy what we have to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Run by parents and friends of the school, the fair has grown a loyal and widespread following over the course of its 25 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year there are people from the other side of Melbourne and far afield who come for the Cup weekend, but especially for the fair,\u201d Ms Clarke said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such a fun event, and it\u2019s pretty special that people come that far to enjoy what we have to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Clarke and fellow joint co-ordinator Karen Jacques accepted the Community Event of the Year award at today\u2019s Lions Club Australia Day breakfast at Anglesea.
\nSurf Coast Shire mayor Rose Hodge hailed Aireys Fair and all nominees in the category.<\/p>\n
\u201cAireys Fair embodies so much of what we love and value in Surf Coast Shire, people coming together with such wonderful spirit and sense of purpose to support their local school and kids,\u201d Cr Hodge said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about community, and across 25 years it has become an annual drawcard bringing people back to Aireys.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations to all contributors, and those involved in the other nominated events which all bring so much to Surf Coast Shire life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other nominees included Green Living Festival, ANGAIR Wildflower and Art Weekend, Surf Coast Kite Festival, Nightjar Festival Torquay and Aireys Inlet Open Mic Music Festival.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Aireys Fair took out Community Event of the Year at the Surf Coast Shire\u2019s Australia Day Awards last month, knocking off five popular nominees to score the title. An army of contributors bring the much-loved event to life on Melbourne Cup weekend each year, raising tens of thousands of dollars for Aireys Inlet Primary […]<\/p>\n