The Pomonal Mower Muster is on this Monday.
POMONAL - Start your engines boys and girls, the annual Pomonal Mower Muster is on again.
To celebrate Australia Day, that quintessential Aussie icon, the ride on mower, will be the focus of attention at the fourth annual Pomonal Mower Muster on Monday in Pomonal.
The Pomonal Fire Brigade holds the Mower Muster as a major fundraising activity and community get together.
Organiser John Malligan urged families to head to Pomonal to this year's muster.
"Bring the kids down and enjoy what is a real family day," Mr Malligan said.
"It's a day of good country fun as well as a fundraising activity."
Over the past three years $8000 has been raised and it is hoped another $2000 will be added to the grand total this year. The fundraising has helped the Pomonal Fire Brigade secure a new community tanker as well as donate to Blaze Aid, a charity set up after the Black Saturday bushfires for farmers, and the Cancer Council.
This year organisers invite proud mower owners to register their mower and also enter it in the 'best decorated mower' section.
"We usually have an Australia Day theme, but in the past we've also had wedding cars, flags from all different nations and wives in wheelbarrows!" Mr Malligan said.
In the early days the Pomonal Mower Muster held the world record for the most number of mowers cutting grass at once, but this has since been overtaken by keen Irish grass clippers, with 560 mowers breaking the record.
Registration is free and participants are asked to bring their mowers along at 3pm on Monday to Barney's Bistro in Pomonal - the mowers will be rolling at 4pm. The mowers will take off in a circuit, but due to the fire risk this year, there will be no cutting of grass. A tanker manned by CFA personnel will be on hand to ensure safety. All drivers will be required to wear ear protection, safety glasses, covered shoes and sun protection.
When the convoy arrives back at Barney's an evening of fun family activities will take place, including a water slide, egg and spoon and wheelbarrow races with food and catering available by Barney's Bistro Bar and the Pomonal CFA.
"If you're taking a drive out to Halls Gap or Lake Fyans on Monday, call into Pomonal on the way back and enjoy a good day of family fun," Mr Malligan said.
