Moulamein Yabby Races on this Saturday

There are novelty events for children, egg and spoon races, egg throws, jumping castles, showbags, lotto jars, market and cake stalls, vintage car displays and raffles.

Moulamein Preschool president Jamie Coote remembers going to the Yabby Races when she was little.

“My mum remembers going when she was younger, as well,” Mrs Coote said.

“Even when I moved away, I was always back for the Yabby Races.

“Not only do we have locals, but we also have lots of visitors that weekend, it is the busiest weekend in Moulamein, so that is pretty exciting.

“We have changed venues this year.

“We used to run it in Howard Park, but the Moulamein Heritage Village has just opened and for many reasons, we had to move it, but we also wanted to support the venue, it is just a great, great location.

“We are really excited about that.”

Mrs Coote told a story of a local butcher, Graham Walker, more than 30 years ago, getting some bored children on school holidays to catch and race yabbies, which grew into the annual event.

The Moulamein Preschool Yabby Races, in conjunction with the Moulamein Men’s Shed, is a preschool fundraiser, and this year, funds raised will go towards establishing a community daycare in the town.

Mrs Coote knows how vital a community daycare is, as she has been unable to access one locally for her young children.

“We currently don’t have any care available for families with children under three years old,” she said.

“Our preschool is a three- and four-year-old preschool, so our closest childcare centre is in Swan Hill or Barham.

“I am a school teacher, and my son has just turned three, so he has been able to attend preschool since this year.

“But before then, I was working in Swan Hill, travelling daily from Moulamein, which needs teachers, because I had no childcare available.

“We have a beautiful big brand-new building at the preschool, which can run a daycare and preschool side by side.

“However, the preschool and daycare have separate licensing.

“So, we as a preschool would have to pay for the second licence to run the daycare.

“And that is a lot of money.”

Mrs Coote thinks that 15 or 16 children are currently enrolled in the preschool, many with younger siblings, who could take advantage of the daycare.

If you want to support the Moulamein Preschool’s fundraising efforts, the Yabby Races will be held at the Moulamein Heritage Village, 4 Paterson St, Moulamein, on Saturday, March 30, from 9am onwards.