689 attend new year event

The annual Cowra Community New Year's Eve Beach Party helped welcome in the new year with a bang. Committee spokesman, Ray Johnson, thanked the Cowra community saying, "the Community responded well to our event". "This was our sixth year and it all went to plan. The committee would like to thank all of our sponsors and supporters for again assisting us in funding and supporting this event. "We officially had 689 people in through the gate. One of those was a family from Broken Hill passing through Cowra on their holidays. "This year we again had all of the usual activities; the mud pit, dunking tank, horse drawn carriage rides, petting zoo, volleyball, sandpit, face painting and reptile display. "Simone Gough and some eager drummers gave a demonstration of their newly learned talent and there was a new activity, a mechanical surfboard; and a special guest, Thor, made a visit to Cowra after, our local skydiver Darren made a parachute drop into the racecourse. "As part of the night we ran a raffle with some wonderful prizes, which were donated by local businesses, part of first prize being the opportunity to push on the plunger to start the fireworks. "The lucky winner was Wayne Evans. "The Committee would like to thank our major sponsors: Allied Pinnacle, Cowra Shire Council, Cowra Bowling Club, Cowra Services Club and many other Cowra businesses, with special mention to Woolworths, Coles and the Aussie Hotel, without whose support the Committee would not have been able to run the BBQ. "Without the assistance and support of these businesses, we would not have been able to give Cowra such a great event. Please support these businesses as best you can and the committee thanks everyone for having the confidence in us to undertake what is a year round planning process. "Also as part of our Community interaction since our first Beach Party, we have donation collection tins, at the gate and throughout the area. We nominate a group to receive these donations and this year the Committee selected the Australian Army Cadet 2 Platoon, Cowra. "This year a selected number of Cadets and Officers will be travelling to Norfolk Island to take part in a Casualty Simulation Exercise. This is a fantastic opportunity for these Cadets to gain skills, training and experience. This year we collected $80 which will go towards the fund raising." What about 2024? "We will soon be starting the planning process for this year's event and we are hoping that we can continue with the original concept of having child - friendly activities, jumping castles, dunking tank and mud pit as well as a lot of other activities and, of course the big finish with the fireworks. "Our AGM will be in March and if you have a special connection with Cowra and want to be part of this great event using your expertise and enthusiasm, send us a message on our Facebook page," Mr Johnson said.