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Special Events
King Island Brand Group - Wednesday 23rd April, 11:30am
King Island Brand Group will hold their first Networking Event on Wednesday 23rd April. The networking program is about visiting different businesses on King Island to see first hand how they operate. We will focus on the use of best practice within different industries. Discussion will be about what quality means, sharing information and ideas about how to ensure products are consistently high quality.
We will talk about how different businesses benefit the community and how we promote our businesses both on and off King Island. With better knowledge of each others businesses we can be confident to refer them to friends and clients. It is hoped to run two or three networking events this year.
The "Unloading a Cray boat tour" will start at the wharf at 11:30am. It seems a lot of locals haven't seen this everyday event on King Island and as we're told it's very interesting. The tour will also "showcase" the Cloud Juice bottling hall, King Island Cultural Centre and King Island Seafoods.
It should be imformative and fun, so come along and be involved.
King Island Imperial 20 - March Long Weekend
King Island, situated in Western Bass Strait and only 50 minutes by air from Melbourne and Devonport, is home to one of Australia's unique running events, the King Island Imperial 20, proudly sponsored by SeaRoad Shipping. The feature event, the 32 km handicapped run, is supported by several other events which include: a 32 km walking race, a 4 x 8 km teams walking relay and a 4 x 8 km running relay. The King Island Imperial 20 is more than just a race. Festivities begin on the Saturday with a 3 km warm-up run followed by the Carbo-Feast and Auction of the runners. Following the race on Sunday a Presentation Dinner is held where competitors and visitors have the opportunity to indulge in the finest of King Island beef, cheese and seafood. The King Island Imperial 20 cannot claim to be the biggest running event in Australia but it does claim to be one of the friendliest and best-organized events on the calendar. A unique event in a unique setting! Visit the Race Website for more information. Contact details: Ph: Fax: (03) 6462 1929 E-mail: kingislandrace.org.au The King Island Imperial 20 marathon encourages participation at a junior level. A tremendous amount of support is received by Rod Griffins for both team and individual participants. Rod is our very own Bruce McAvaney. Functions supporting the event held over the March weekend and promoting King Island delights include a Calcutta and Carbo night on the Saturday and a presentation night on the Sunday catering for in excess of 200 people. A feature of the weekend is the Free Willies dash for cash - always a topic of conversation! Entry by donation and all funds donated to a local charity. The weekend activities consumes the lives of many volunteers for at least 6 months of the year and for that of past race co-ordinator and founder, Robert Cooper, part of his life experiences for the past 8 years. On race day volunteers man drink stations, officiate events, crew ambulances and massage those tight muscles. A great community effort for the 200 odd volunteers! Well known running fraternity personalities who have competed in King Island’s Imperial 20 include :-
KING ISLAND OPEN - GOLF Golf was first played at Currie in 1910, when about 30 enthusiasts engaged in the game for a period when the grass was short enough to enjoy the sport without it deteriorating to a game of 'find the ball.' The KING ISLAND GOLF CLUB was formed in 1931 and after a bowling green was established The King Island Open is held over the Northern Tasmanian Recreation Day/Melbourne Cup long weekend in November, and anyone with an AGU Handicap can participate. The course comprises 9 holes with 12 greens. A Calcutta is held on the Friday night and a presentation evening after the golf on the Sunday night. Competitors from all over Australia participate in this two day event which attracts over 100 golfers. Events include 18 hole and 36 hole events for ladies and men as well as a 36 hole junior handicap event. Entry fee $25.00. KING ISLAND DRAMATIC SOCIETY & REGIONAL ARTS
The King Island Dramatic Society and Regional Arts is an award winning amateur theatre group and prides itself on working to perfect all areas of the production, thus culminating in a quality performance that King Island can be proud of. QUEENSCLIFF TO GRASSY YACHT RACE - March long weekend The race is organized by the Ocean Racing Yacht Club of Victoria in conjunction with the King Island Boat Club and sailed on the Victorian Labour Day long weekend in March.
 Visitors are welcome at the King Island Boat Club during the race weekend and can experience first hand the excitement of finishing yachts sailing into Grassy Harbour, meeting with crew members and locals alike while enjoying great food and refreshments at the boat club.
Contact John Brewster
KING ISLAND HORSE RACING CARNIVAL December/January It is a unique day of racing, having both codes running on the same day. In the early days, it was nothing for a horse to arrive pulling the jinker with the family aboard The King Island Race Club has been established for over 100 years with the first meeting held on donated land at Porky's Flat (near Loorana) on 1st January, 1882. Only two races were held that day followed by a turkey lunch and an afternoon of various sporting events. From this start, racing became a very important social and sporting event for the people of the Island. Many different venues were used initially, Sea Elephant Bay to name one, until the present site was established. Most of the first races were flat races and hurdles and in 1896 the first trotting race was included in the program. Races were chosen according to the horses ability and the capability of the riders who were usually the owner or his son or someone who worked for the owner. Membership was 10 shillings and 6 pence (at the time kangaroo skins sold for 14 shillings a dozen and sometimes payment was made with skins). More and more settlers became involved as time passed and by New Years Day 1910 there were 500 in attendance. By this time betting was allowed on the course and ladies were allowed to become Honary Members. Also the cost of membership had decreased to 7 shillings - because there were so many members! Race Days are relaxed community gatherings with refreshments and food readily available. The King Island Race Club boasts full TOTE and Sky Channel facilities, a bookmaker and race broadcaster. Trials are held in November for both codes preceding commencement of race meetings.
KING ISLAND SHOW
The King Island Pastoral, Horticultural and Agricultural Society hold their Annual Show the first Tuesday in March. Experience the Island’s major annual event. Visit the pavilion for the arts and crafts display and wool judging, tasty food is for sale (the donuts are a must!). There is cattle judging, horse riding displays, pet competitions and so much more. |
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Each race begins on the Sunday morning at the picturesque seaside hamlet of Naracoopa on the east coast of King Island. The course winds its way across the island to finish on the west coast at the main township of Currie.
in 1959 the two clubs amalgamated to come the King Island Golf & Bowling Club. Today's clubhouse with its breathtaking views of the King Island coastline and Southern Ocean was constructed in the late 1960's.
and then run in one or even two races and then pull the jinker home, so the present program seems quite natural to the older community.