THE upcoming Australian Football League (AFL) Gather Round is set to attract more than 40,000 people to Mount Gambier before heading off to Adelaide for the event’s second coming.
To celebrate the occasion, the Mount Gambier City Council has established the Before the Bounce program; a series of events and activities held in the city to benefit from the tourism spike.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin said the city would openly welcome visitors “making the pilgrimage” to the Gather Round.
“Council staff have done a fabulous job to pull together this event program for our residents and visitors to enjoy,” Ms Martin said.
The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre will lead the charge with a creative space called ‘Straight to the Pool Room!’.
Riddoch Arts and Culture Centre director Ashleigh Whatling said the experience will focus on the fans and families of regional football.
“It will feature Naracoorte resident Andy Munro’s extensive football guernsey collection, a guernsey design competition, footy card selfies and other activities tailored for every age group,“ Ms Whatling said.
Along with the space will be a film screening at The Riddoch of ‘The Club’; a 1980 Australian satire film.
Meanwhile, the Mount Gambier Library will be reflecting on local legends of the football scene with stories of the glory days, while encouraging members of the community to bring along their own memorabilia to share.
Mount Gambier Library and Community Development manager Georgina Davison said there would also be a pom pom craft activity and find the football competition with an AFL football signed by Geelong Cat’s player Brad Close.
ANFL will host a free junior footy clinic facilitated by SANFL game development staff at Frew Park on Thursday March 28 at 4.30pm including a special display featuring the SANFL and 2024 AFL Premiership Cups.
Businesses and the community are encouraged to ‘wear your colours’ on the Friday of the Gather Round.
