The Maffra and District Bendigo Bank will offer cash prizes for the three best overall floats in the Rotary Club of Maffra Mardi Gras 2023. This is in addition to the trophy awards, and to their usual sponsorship of the best three school floats.
The bank board’s chairman, Rob Christie, said the Maffra Community Bank would like locals to support this event by entering floats in the parade. After not being able to hold such events over the past three years, the area needed a boost to bring people together again.
“We are very pleased to be able to assist in encouraging more businesses and organisations to participate in the Mardi Gras 2023,” he said.
The theme for 2023 is ‘The Circus’. Prizes will be awarded to the best-looking floats in line with the actual theme. The first prize is $3000 so it is well worth going all out to make an effort.
The bank has also increased the money for school floats, with $1000 being awarded to the best school float, $750 for second place and $500 for third place.
The Mardi Gras committee and the Rotary Club of Maffra have welcomed the bank’s involvement.
Floats are welcome from any business or organisation in Wellington Shire, not just Maffra. Businesses will also have the opportunity to compete for a new trophy, the Arthur Watts Trophy for the Best Business Float. This is a new initiative of the current Mardi Gras Committee, and is a wall plaque so that it can be hung in the winner’s business premises.
Trophies will be awarded either jointly or separately from the cash prizes.
The community is urged to get their creative thinking caps on over the Christmas break and plan a wonderful float for March 18, 2023.
