The big boats will be back again on April 22-24 for an even bigger 2022 event.
Yarrawonga Mulwala Tourism and Business is aiming to further build on the very successful 2021 EC Griffith Cup boat race and fair.
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Last year’s EC Griffith Cup and Yarrawonga Fair event held in April delivered an economic injection of $2.7 million into the local economy, attracting several thousand spectators from all over the region making it one of the region’s biggest events of 2021.
Yarrawonga Mulwala Tourism and Business (YMTB) Executive Officer Noel Wright said the figures were confirmed by Remplan Report Principal Economist, Mathew Nichol, at Remplan Victoria.
“This is a fantastic outcome for Yarrawonga Mulwala. It is important to the financial success of our community to host large events, such as the EC Griffith Cup and the Lake Mulwala Rod Run particularly when the events are during the off-peak times of the year,” Mr Wright said.
Reminiscent of the days the boat races were held on New Year’s Day a huge crowd flocked to the foreshore last April for the successful 2021 EC Griffith Cup boat racing event and Foreshore Fair.
“We have applied for grant funding to further promote this year’s event which is to be held on April 22-24, but we are also keen to attract key sponsors so we can make the EC Griffith Cup and Fair the biggest on the Yarrawonga Mulwala yearly calendar for years to come.”
Large crowds of people swarmed to both the Yarrawonga and Mulwala foreshores last April to watch the speed boat racing whilst also enjoying the atmosphere and hospitality on offer with the Yarrawonga Fair on the lawns at the Yarrawonga foreshore.
“The temporary population explosion as a result of big events like this leads to cash inflows into the Yarrawonga Mulwala business community which flows to additional job creation and greater opportunity to add to the wealth of all local residents,” Mr Wright added.
“We now have two events which fill Yarrawonga Mulwala to capacity; The EC Griffith Cup and Yarrawonga Fair in late April and the Lake Mulwala Rod Run in early November.”
Mr Wright encourages all businesses that are not tourism members to join and provide the financial support so YMTB can source and secure additional events in the same vein.
“Events like these also need a positive reaction from residents directly affected by the road closures, and although we have a small and dedicated volunteer base, we also need more community members to volunteer at the bar, on entry gates and pit gates.
“We are planning now for another big event and the economic benefits will hopefully come again.”
If you are interested in sponsoring the event or volunteering in some way, contact the Yarrawonga Mulwala Information Centre on 03 5744 1989.
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