Mount Lyell Strahan Picnic

MOUNT LYELL STRAHAN PICNIC COMMITTEE INC.

Notice of Annual General Meeting
(this) Thursday 19th October
6:00pm, Strahan Primary School

**NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS WELCOME**

For 120 years the Mount Lyell Strahan Picnic has brought families on the West Coast together. Every year, families flock to West Strahan Beach for the annual Mount Lyell Strahan Picnic. The day is filled with traditional picnic-style activities (e.g., egg and spoon race, three-leg race, bicycle race, men’s and women’s gift, etc). The program has been 120 years in the making and caters for children and adults alike!

Committee secretary Leigh Styles said that the ongoing success of the Picnic relies on volunteers to join the committee and to assist on the day.

“We are always looking for new members. The committee meet four times a year. It is not a big commitment, and the enjoyment on children’s faces makes it all worthwhile”.

Committee members assist with fundraising and organising in the lead up to the event. On the day, committee members can be involved in any number of duties – serving free fruit and drinks to children, starting races, awarding prizes and traffic management.

“Many West Coast families have fond memories of attending the annual Mount Lyell Picnic. It is wonderful to see generations of families still attending the event, all with fond memories having attended the event themselves as children.”, said Leigh Styles.

The first Picnic was held on 5th December in 1897 when employees of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company; and their wives and children; would assemble in Queenstown and board one of the empty open-topped ore carts for the train-ride to Strahan. As there was no shelter, women would sew hessian canvas and make a shade from the sun.

While the event used to be entirely supported and organised by the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, a volunteer committee made up of Queenstown and Strahan residents now work hard throughout the year to keep the tradition alive.

“We acknowledge and thank the West Coast business community who support us year after year to keep the Picnic running and all activities free of charge”, said Leigh Styles.

Children are particularly catered for on the day through the provision of free fruit, drinks, ice cream, and sweets. In addition, the committee award 118 first place prizes, 66 second place prizes and usually award participation and effort as well.

The 120th annual Mount Lyell Strahan Picnic will be held on Friday 26th January, 2018, at West Strahan Beach, commencing at 10:00am.

In the lead up to the event, members of the public are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Mount Lyell Strahan Picnic Committee Incorporated, to be held (this) Thursday 19th October, 6:00pm at the Strahan Primary School.

More information: www.strahanpicnic.org
Leigh Styles, Secretary