Wean Amateur Picnic Races making a comeback in July with African safari theme

This is because the Wean Amateur Picnic Races will be back in action with an African safari theme to boot.

Punters are being encouraged to dress up in their best safari outfit, or maybe even sport stripes like a zebra or spots like a giraffe.

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Wean Jockey Club president Les Alker said the committee had been working "flat out" planning the event after the 2020 race was cancelled due to the pandemic.

"Because it's a voluntary committee it's taken a while to get people back together," Mr Alker said.

"The hardest thing with COVID was to keep everyone positive because there was a lot of uncertainty and conflicting messages and signals during our 18 months off so nobody really knew what was happening.

"Fortunately we're in Australia, and fortunately even more we're in NSW which is one of the most sane places on the planet."

He said the safari theme idea was the one that received the most votes by the committee.

"Every year for the last 11 years we've chosen a theme for people to dress up to so we the first year we did it was 1914 theme," he told the Leader.

"We get each committee member to think up a theme they would like then we sit and discuss it and vote on it and the one that gets the most votes gets it."

Other previous themes have included the French revolution, pirates and the Great Gatsby.

The day has been going ahead since 1933, and features entertainment, fun activities for the kids, and much more.

Mr Alker said it generally brought 1800-2500 people to Wean every year.

Gates open on July 10 at 9.30am with the first race set to begin at 12pm.

There'll be prizes for the best dressed in a variety of different categories: best female, best male, best couple, best African safari, and junior and senior categories.

Buses will run from local pubs like the Royal Hotel in Manilla, the Courthouse Hotel in Gunnedah, and the Somerton Hotel.

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