After the Deniliquin & District Transport Industry Wall of Fame dinner this Friday night, attentions will turn to the Rotary Club of Deniliquin Truck Show & Industry Expo.
The truck show committee has partnered with Deniliquin Rotary to host the event, which will also be held at a new venue at the Deniliquin Racing Club on Racecourse Rd, Deniliquin.
Committee president John Creenaune said after a few years impacted by COVID-19 and then flooding in 2022, the excitement has been building for a big event.
“While it can be hard to predict gate numbers this far out, we are expecting about 1500 people, and maybe even up to 2000,” he said.
“I think it should be great weather, which always draws more people out.
“Both Evan Whitbourne (committee vice president) and I have received calls from transport operators as far away as Gippsland who want to be involved.
“I’ve also spoken to one driver from Queensland who will be in the area for work and will now be spending his weekend in Deniliquin at our event.”
As a celebration of the transport industry, there will be a range of trade sites and industry and technology information available at the expo.
But Mr Creenaune said it’s also a family friendly event, so there will be a host of children’s entertainment, raffles and a charity auction to enjoy too.
“We have at least 25 auction items already, and history tells us we’ll keep getting items donated right up until the bidding starts on Saturday afternoon,” Mr Creenaune said.
“The beauty of that is that every dollar we raise goes back into the community.
“The expo on Saturday is also your last chance to get a ticket in our raffle, which will be drawn at 3pm.
“Prizes are a 75L Brass Money portable, low profile, dual zone fridge/freezer valued at $849, a $500 Betta Home Living voucher and a children’s outdoor wooden truck valued at $1100. Tickets are just $5 each.”
A key element of the day will be the show and shine, with plenty of categories to fit all kinds of vehicles.
Registrations will be taken until noon on the day of the expo.
The registration fee of $20 includes driver and prime mover entry to the show. Passengers of show and shine entry vehicles get in for $10 per person.
The general entry fee for the expo is $10 per adult and free for under-16s, and the gates open at 10am.
Friday night’s Wall of Fame dinner will be hosted at the Deniliquin RSL Club, with six inductions to be made - three for 2023, and three deferred from 2022 after floods cancelled the event.
The weekend will conclude with the Deniliquin & District Wall of Fame Memorial Service at the North Deniliquin rest stop on Sunday.
The short service will begin at 11am.
For more information about the schedule of events, head to denitruckshow.com.au or www.facebook.com/denitruckshow.
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