Another successful Maffra Mardi Gras in 2026
2027 will be on the 13th of March
Post Mardi Gras article.
Maffra was buzzing on Saturday afternoon and evening, with market stalls, a huge variety of
food stalls, music from the talented Emily Nock and the toe tapping Mafeking Hillbillies, and
lots of entertainment for the kids. There was a great atmosphere, people out having fun and
enjoying everything on offer, thanks to a grant from Wellington Shire Council and many local
business sponsors.
The Grand Parade was headed, as always, by the Maffra Municipal Band, this time in their
uniform yellow jackets. They stopped in front of the stage and played AC/DC’s Thunderstruck
- well in keeping with the Mardi Gras theme of AUSTRALIANA. The Sale Pipe Band also
marched in the parade with their distinctive sound, adding to the atmosphere.
The school and community floats were highly creative, showcasing all the features of
Australia you could think of, including the outback dunny complete with red-back spider, lots
of native animals as well as Yowies and Bunyips, scenes from Australian children’s books, a
Hills Hoist, skiing and boating at summer scout camps, bushland and beaches, and of course,
football!
There was also an amazing array of vehicles, starting with the Emergency Services Vehicles,
including their restored 1928 Graham Bros Fire Truck. This year we also had a Vardo, a
traditional wooden wagon that took 4 years to build and was painted to represent the early
model Vardos.
Many local businesses support the parade, showcasing their trucks and tractors, with Mac
Waste Group entering several spotlessly clean trucks. Brandt’s Tractors presented a range of
John Deere tractors as well as a huge Road Grader. Higgins Machinery rolled out their
enormous New Holland T9 700, the largest tractor of the New Holland group.
The prize winners, thanks to the Community Bank, Maffra and District, were:
1st place, $3000 – Boisdale Consoldiated School
2nd place, $2000 – St Mary’s Primary School
3rd Place, $1000 – Maffra Primary School
4th Place, $750 – Boisdale/Briagolong Football/Netball Club
5thPlace, $500 – Maffra Car Club
The new Environmental Award of $1000, for the use of recycled and sustainable materials,
was hotly contested but was won by the 1st Stratford Scouts.
The Liz Shephard Trophy for the best overall float went to Boisdale Consolidated School, as
did the new Jakob Malmo Trophy for the Best School Parade Entry. The Joan Laws Trophy for
the best Community Float went to the Maffra Community Band and the Arthur Watts
Business Trophy went to Brandt Maffra.
The winner of Mardi Gras 2026 was the Boisdale/Briagolong Football/Netball Club. They
raised an amazing $47.410, which is an all-time record for Mardi Gras. The 1st Stratford
Scouts did an amazing job for a small club, raising $18,508. Thanks to everyone who
supported them, they can now achieve their goals. A wonderful result for both
organisations.
Maffra was buzzing on Saturday afternoon and evening, with market stalls, a huge variety of
food stalls, music from the talented Emily Nock and the toe tapping Mafeking Hillbillies, and
lots of entertainment for the kids. There was a great atmosphere, people out having fun and
enjoying everything on offer, thanks to a grant from Wellington Shire Council and many local
business sponsors.
The Grand Parade was headed, as always, by the Maffra Municipal Band, this time in their
uniform yellow jackets. They stopped in front of the stage and played AC/DC’s Thunderstruck
- well in keeping with the Mardi Gras theme of AUSTRALIANA. The Sale Pipe Band also
marched in the parade with their distinctive sound, adding to the atmosphere.
The school and community floats were highly creative, showcasing all the features of
Australia you could think of, including the outback dunny complete with red-back spider, lots
of native animals as well as Yowies and Bunyips, scenes from Australian children’s books, a
Hills Hoist, skiing and boating at summer scout camps, bushland and beaches, and of course,
football!
There was also an amazing array of vehicles, starting with the Emergency Services Vehicles,
including their restored 1928 Graham Bros Fire Truck. This year we also had a Vardo, a
traditional wooden wagon that took 4 years to build and was painted to represent the early
model Vardos.
Many local businesses support the parade, showcasing their trucks and tractors, with Mac
Waste Group entering several spotlessly clean trucks. Brandt’s Tractors presented a range of
John Deere tractors as well as a huge Road Grader. Higgins Machinery rolled out their
enormous New Holland T9 700, the largest tractor of the New Holland group.
The prize winners, thanks to the Community Bank, Maffra and District, were:
1st place, $3000 – Boisdale Consoldiated School
2nd place, $2000 – St Mary’s Primary School
3rd Place, $1000 – Maffra Primary School
4th Place, $750 – Boisdale/Briagolong Football/Netball Club
5thPlace, $500 – Maffra Car Club
The new Environmental Award of $1000, for the use of recycled and sustainable materials,
was hotly contested but was won by the 1st Stratford Scouts.
The Liz Shephard Trophy for the best overall float went to Boisdale Consolidated School, as
did the new Jakob Malmo Trophy for the Best School Parade Entry. The Joan Laws Trophy for
the best Community Float went to the Maffra Community Band and the Arthur Watts
Business Trophy went to Brandt Maffra.
The winner of Mardi Gras 2026 was the Boisdale/Briagolong Football/Netball Club. They
raised an amazing $47.410, which is an all-time record for Mardi Gras. The 1st Stratford
Scouts did an amazing job for a small club, raising $18,508. Thanks to everyone who
supported them, they can now achieve their goals. A wonderful result for both
organisations.