Aussie Bob and Aussie Beth on Australia Day

This year for Australian Day, January 26, we went to Coolum, the town just 3 kms north of us. We hurried to get to the parade that I thought began at 1030 but when we got there it was over. It started at 10 am. There were plenty of activities going on. They had rides for the kids and the young at heart, the market was in town and they welcomed a lot of new Australian citizens.In the afternoon all the big events took place.  

The main event was the toad races. We had looked forward to that the entire week.

They have 20 toads that they raffle off to the highest bidder. The winning bid owns the toad for the race. They raised $800 which 1/2 goes to the first three toads to cross the finish line

. The

 winner gets $200, second $150 and third $100. All toads are numbered and placed in the compartment of the circular box. On the count of three the starting box is lifted and 20 toads hop around. The toad that reaches the outside black ring of the toad course is the winner.

Great excitement.

However the next day on the TV we saw a cockroach race. We will have to check that out next year.

The rest of the day had tug of wars, thong throwing, and the Iron Man competition. In the

 iron man they had toeat a meat pie run around a post and return and drink a beer, run around a post and then carry a bale of hay around the

 post. 

Fireworks lit up the night sky.

We only have two more days here at Peregian Beach on the Sunshine Coast. We enjoyed out time here but we are ready to move on. 

In Australia there are a few signs that you may not to ignore.

Our local village had a nice town square with lots of restaurants and shops.