Big rigs and community spirit filled the Mount Gambier Showgrounds on the weekend as the Mount Gambier Truck Show rolled into town.
Revellers from the Limestone Coast and beyond followed a convoy of more than 80 heavy vehicles to the showgrounds for a trucking good time.
The convoy departed Penola in the morning before arriving at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds where the main event took place from 10.30am-4pm.
There was plenty to see and do for kids and adults alike with face painting, a giant sandpit, live entertainment, market stalls, food trucks, laser tag, a bouncing castle, balloon animals and inflatable games.
There was an array of awards and prizes on offer for truck drivers.
Mount Gambier Family Truck Show chair Aaron Mattner said everybody had a fantastic day especially the children who were pleased with the abundance of activities.
“We had the same number of trucks entered in the truck show, but we had more stalls and more activities for the kids this year which proved very popular,” Mr Mattner said.
“We had the core group that usually come like the Merretts and the Morelands, but we had a few extra this year which was good and a good variety of vehicles as well.
“We were worried the crowd might be down because of the weather, but everybody said there were more people around looking at a bigger range of exhibits.
“We definitely took more money at the gate than last year, so the donations at the gate were up from last year.
Organisers were also pleased at the large turnout on hand to experience the truck convoy rolling into the city.
“More crowds came out to watch the convoy, we were surprised by the number of people who watched the convoy.”
Mr Mattner said it was a day of quality all-round entertainment.
“There were 20-something stalls, we had 11 outdoor trade sites and then we had a lot more static displays with vintage trucks, the cars, we had the Mil Lel Steam and Machinery Association then a big display of go karts and racing cars and sprint cars,” he said.
“The log loading display that we had drew a lot of people in to have a look at because a lot of people would not see that happen obviously being out in the forest.
“Even the things like the CFS where the kids could use the hoses to squirt the little trucks along the ground or to put the flames out in the building, all the trucks ran out of water because all the kids just loved it so that was a real positive.
“It was definitely the best show we have had and we’re really happy with the results. We could not have asked for a better day”
The event will donate the funds collected to local charities including Spare Ya Change 4 Kids, Four Reasons Why, Ski for Life and ac.care.
“ac.care got a big donation of stuffed children’s toys, so anybody that donated toys they went straight to ac.care,” Mr Mattner said.
Mr Mattner said the committee would look to expand on their offerings for next year’s event.
“We had such a positive response to the kid’s entertainment and at the end of the day, it’s the family truck show so attracting the families for a good fun day out is what we’re really trying to do,” he said.
“We would like to thank the community for supporting us and hope to see them for a bigger and better show next year.”
