The Wandoan community are spreading awareness for their 2019 Camel Races to be held on Saturday 20 July with painted rocks — and they have plans to send them all across Australia.
Wandoan and District Kindergarten’s Teaching Director Trish Pitkin wanted to promote awareness for the 2019 Wandoan Camel Races as this event is run by her kindergarten to raise vital funds. After a holiday to Bargara where she saw some painted rocks in action, Ms Pitkin decided to bring the idea closer to home and hide approximately 20 of her own painted Wandoan Camel Races Rocks across the Western Downs. Now, when each person finds a rock, they post a photo to the Wandoan Camel Races Facebook page with a hint — then they hide it somewhere new.
Western Downs Regional Council Spokesperson for Communities and Cultural Development Councillor Kaye Maguire said the hide and seek game was a fantastic way to get the whole community excited for the Camel Races. “This is such a fun idea and what a great way to show our community pride in the Western Downs,” she said. “The Wandoan Camel Races are always a fantastic event and hopefully this clever game of hide and seek will spread the word to everyone that it’s worth the trip in 2019. These painted rocks are such a great way to promote this community event and it’s so exciting to think they could end up right across Australia!”
Ms Pitkin said the kindergarten children recently painted more rocks to send out into the community after hearing of the success of the initial 20. “I know one rock has been re-hidden at Chinchilla and I had one grey nomad at the park take a rock to deliver somewhere along his way to Canberra!” she said. “When I hid them, I started local and picked parks, caravan spots and the showgrounds which will actually host the event. But we know people come all the way down from Emu Park and up from Adelaide and New South Wales, so it is my goal to get the rocks all over Australia.”
If you find any Wandoan Camel Races Rocks around the region, Ms Pitkin encourages you to take a photo and share it to the Wandoan Camel Races Facebook page, then hide the rock somewhere new. The Wandoan Camel Races will be held on Saturday 20 July 2019 at the Wandoan Showgrounds.
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