By Bridget Cook
CRANBOURNE will be on showcase to the local and wider community in October in what’s shaping up to be a big month for the town.
During October, Cranbourne will host the MRA Cranbourne GP Run, the TAB Sportsbet Cranbourne Cup and the Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce (CCC) joint annual general meeting and the town’s 150th birthday celebrations.
City of Casey Mayor Shar Balmes said October was shaping up to be a busy time for Cranbourne, with a wide variety of fantastic activities and events on offer for the whole family.
“There are many great places to visit and events to attend in Cranbourne, so get the whole family together and enjoy what this vibrant destination has to offer in spring,” she said.
The TAB Sportsbet Cranbourne Cup is the first event on the calendar to be held on Sunday 9 October.
One of the biggest social events in Casey for the year, the day offers plenty of racing action, fashionable fillies and family fun and entertainment for the children.
With 10 races scheduled throughout the day, there will much excitement with a field of top quality horses vying to win the TAB Sportsbet $1 million bonus.
The MRA Cranbourne GP Run will be another big drawcard to the area, with huge crowds expected to gather in High Street, Cranbourne, on Saturday 15 October to watch dual Olympic gold medallist Kieren Perkins wave-off motorcycle riders on their journey to Phillip Island from Cranbourne.
The CCC, along with the City of Casey, has now organised a special event to celebrate the 150th anniversary since Cranbourne was gazetted as a town – a milestone which almost went unnoticed.
The CCC will hold its AGM and a combined celebration for the 150th anniversary at Amberlee Receptions on Wednesday 19 October.
As well as electing the new president, the evening will also have a special focus on the history of Cranbourne.
The host of the night will be Marty Fields, who has appeared in numerous Australian movies and television programs. He now performs stand up comedy across the country.
CCC president Neil Bainbridge said the event would be a great celebration of Cranbourne.
“It will be a great opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the 150th anniversary – a great milestone,” he said.
“It will celebrate and look back at how Cranbourne has developed in the past 150 years.”
Mr Bainbridge said October was an exciting time for Cranbourne as a whole.
“The events will bring a lot of people and mass crowds to experience what Cranbourne has to offer,” he said.
“Businesses and the community should embrace and support the major events that happen in Cranbourne.
“With a high influx of people set to come to the area, businesses should be able to get some economic benefit out of it.”
