Motorcycles and cars will be polished and ready to rev for the fifth edition of the Gannawarra Memorial Toy Run, with community members set to experience the early arrival of festive spirit on November 23.
The event serves several purposes, including distributing toys and Christmas hampers and providing a chance for people to remember those close to them who have passed away, as well as boosting the economies of the towns and businesses visited throughout the day.
Commencing at Leitchville, travelling through Kerang, Murrabit, Barham and Cohuna, participants will have an opportunity to showcase their vehicles as they ride or drive the 150km route.
Vehicles will stop at each town, with participants enjoying breakfast, morning tea and lunch along the way.
Most motorcyclists will meet in Leitchville at 7am, travelling to Kerang where they will link with car enthusiasts.
Before the combined groups take to the road, they will enjoy breakfast at businesses along Victoria Street.
The group will have morning tea at Barham, with lunch at Cohuna Park.
Participants are welcome to bring toys to be distributed at towns along the route.
Hampers, put together by the combined churches of the region, will also be distributed.
The toy run will also commemorate former local riders Jed Ferris, who lost his life in a motorcycle accident, and Paul Webb who suggested the event, but passed away before it came to fruition.
The idea for the inaugural Gannawarra Toy Run came about at a men’s breakfast held by the Cohuna Anglican and Uniting Churches.
Councillor Mark Arians is one of the event organisers and has taken part in the event since its inception.
He said there would be prizes for the best vehicle in a variety of categories, raffles and Lions Club barbecues.
“All funds raised on the day go back into our local communities,” Cr Arians said.
He said the event provided an opportunity to enjoy a day out, while supporting the local communities along the way.
“It’s a terrific day, a real festive atmosphere,” Cr Arians said.
“The community line the route of the toy run, waving, and you see kids all the way around. It’s the start of Christmas for a lot of local people.”
He said anyone could nominate a family or a child to receive a hamper or gift.
Up to 140 bikes and 100 cars are likely to be on show along the route, made up predominately of locals, but with a number attending from further afield.
