The event will feature live music from Anna Bowie, games and a jumping castle for children, and a plethora food trucks offering burgers, pizza and ice cream.
The festivities will end 1am Saturday.
Committee member Deb Macknight said it will be a family night, in a relaxing environment along the beautiful Edward River.
Feel free to bring your own picnic. The bar will also be open.
Annual lolly run
Santa took time out of his very busy schedule to stop by Mathoura on Christmas Eve — as has been a very long tradition for the small town.
With the help of the Mathoura Rural Fire Service brigade, he made his way around town and to Picnic Point, delivering lollies to the young ones.
Given he did need to get back to his regular job as quickly as possible, firefighters acted as elves and handed out lollies in the areas Santa was unable to stop.
Both of the brigades fire trucks — Mathoura 1 Alpha and Mathoura 1 Bravo — were making the deliveries.
St Nick at Nav
While he was in the area on Christmas Eve, Santa made sure not to forget some of the older festive season revellers in the district.
The residents of Navorina Nursing Home in Deniliquin got a chance to catch up will jolly old Saint Nick, who was appropriately masked and signed in using the QR code system — as is requirement for any visitor to the aged care facility.
And it’s not just the young ones who get gifts from Santa.
The big man came armed with a trio of succulent plants for the residents he met.
Park fun
It’s been lovely seeing locals and visitors alike taking the time to enjoy the variety of open spaces we have in Deniliquin and district.
They have been particularly popular with the weather relatively mild, in the low to mid 30s, the start of this week.
One visiting family made the most of an often underutilised grassed section of the Deniliquin Waring Gardens.
They had set up their own cricket stumps between the lagoon and the muses statue for a quick lunchtime family game on Tuesday.
Fire danger warning
This week started off with top temperatures of about 30°C and a lovely 34°C on Wednesday, but there will be nothing mild about this weekend.
A top of 39°C is predicted for today, 41°C for New Year’s Day, 40°C for Sunday and 39°C for Monday.
While this weekend will be hot, only low to moderate winds are being forecasted.
That should mean there will be no total fire bans called, however firefighters say that can change quite quickly.
Mid Murray Rural Fire Service operations officer Gerard James said if you’re planning on lighting any fires this weekend, you should also check the fire danger rating before doing so.
He said if a total fire ban is declared over the weekend, you won’t even be able to fire up the barbecue.
Mr James encouraged everyone to think of their actions during the heat wave, including those who might be thinking of setting off illegal fireworks to ring in the new year.
Remember, any spark can cause a fire that could pose a risk to the community.
If you see a fire, report it immediately to Triple Zero (000).
Junior COVID shots
Children aged five to 11 years old will soon be eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation approved it for that age bracket.
Parents and guardians can start booking eligible children from January 10.
Booster shots are also available for anyone who had their second dose four or more months ago.
Search COVID vaccine clinic finder online or visit https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-vaccine-clinic-finder
Soul Pattinson Chemist is asking customers to book via phone or through links on their website or Facebook page, while Eric Sim Pharmacy asks that customers book over the phone.
Tests rapidly going
Rapid Antigen Tests are in short supply across the country this week, and the same is true for Deniliquin.
Both the town’s pharmacies have low or no stock because suppliers are under unprecedented strain.
Soul Pattinson expected to sell out of all stock by close of business yesterday, and Eric Sim was unsure it would receive new stock before mid-January.
National Cabinet held a crisis meeting yesterday about a national approach to managing the country’s Omicron outbreak, which followed earlier announcements by the NSW and Victorian governments that they would make rapid antigen tests free.
State leaders were yet to confirm how those tests would be distributed at the time of going to print.
