Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph returns to Merbein

Published on 29 August 2019

One of the Mallee’s most iconic events – the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph – will return to Merbein from next year.

Merbein Progressive Group Inc. and Merbein District Inc. will coordinate and run the event for the next three years after Councillors last night endorsed the application following a recent expression of interest process. The event was last held in Merbein in 2016.

Councillor for Economic Development and Tourism Mark Eckel congratulated the new organisers for ensuring the event remains in the Mallee.

“The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph remains one of our most unique events, attracting interest and entries from across south eastern Australia,” Cr Eckel said.

“I’m excited to see the event will not only remain in our region, where it belongs, but return to Merbein.

“I’d like to congratulate the new team and look forward to what they have planned for the coming three Triumphs, as I’m sure residents across our region do as well.”

Cr Eckel said that as founders of the long-running event, which started in Ouyen in 1998, Ouyen Inc. was included in the application assessment process.

As part of the three-year memorandum of understanding with Council, a $5000 grant will be provided to Merbein Progressive Group Inc. and Merbein District Inc. for the first year of the event to help with planning.

Cr Eckel thanked Mildura City Heart for adding a new dimension to the event over the past three years.

“Mildura City Heart has done a fantastic job, bringing the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph into Mildura’s central business district for the first time,” he said.

“This team worked tirelessly to ensure the event continued to evolve and maintain an important place in our annual events calendar.”

Mildura City Heart will work with the new organisers to ensure a smooth transition.

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