As the summer holidays wind down, the Birchip community is gearing up for a vibrant summer of events, spearheaded by local volunteers, community organisations, and sporting clubs.
Local summer sport has resumed, pre-season winter sports training has commenced, the pool is open every day, including two early morning sessions for lap swimming on Wednesday and Friday and two water aerobics sessions facilitated by Brenda and Maddie Doran on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Tchum Lake is buzzing with people swimming and enjoying water sports, walks, runs, barbecues and amazing sunsets, and the community calendar is filling up with an exciting array of events and activities that promise opportunities for connection, celebration, and shared experiences for all.
Australia Day
The first major community event of 2025 will be the Australia Day celebration at Birchip Memorial Park hosted by Birchip Community Forum. Everyone is invited to the community breakfast starting at 8 a.m., followed by a keynote address by William Ringin and the presentation of the prestigious Birchip Community Awards.
Once school returns for students on Wednesday, January 28th, the calendar becomes jam packed with exciting activities. The Birchip Tennis Club will kick off festivities, with their popular themed dinner on Saturday, February 8. This year’s event, “A Night on the Green”, boasts an Italian theme and promises great food, ambiance, and entertainment.
Entertainment
On Friday, February 28, the Birchip Tennis Club will combine with the Birchip Cricket Club for their ever-popular quiz night, offering a fun and competitive evening for community members of all ages. Community members are encouraged to get together their team of 6, and lock the date in their diaries.
Many people may have already seen the movie “Just a Farmer” but a free screening with a free pre-event barbecue dinner and post-event supper at the Birchip Public Hall on Tuesday, February 18th, will focus on the meaningful and poignant messages explored in the movie.
This is a collaborative event by East Wimmera Health Service, Birchip Cropping Group, and Birchip Neighbourhood House, with funding provided by FRRR to enable the community to watch the movie together and chat about the underlying themes of love, loss and the unbreakable spirit of a farming community facing adversity head-on.
The writer and executive producer of the film, Leila McDougall, will be in attendance to provide insight to her reasons for making of the film and the relevance the film has to rural communities like ours, and the role we all play in supporting each other.
Later in that week, on Friday, February 21, the Birchip Cropping Group will showcase tits 2024 results and findings and its members-only Trials Review Day at the Birchip Community Leisure Centre.
Long Weekend
The summer activities will culminate with Birchip’s biggest weekend of the year on the long weekend in March, incorporating the Mali Heart Street Art Festival and the Birchip Harness Racing Club Mallee Bull Cup.
This summer, the Birchip community has something for everyone. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or a socialite, there is lots of opportunities to connect with friends and neighbours, and keep the community spirit thriving.