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Before the Bounce

Get ready to kick off the footy festivities with Before the Bounce in the lead up to Gather Round.

From Saturday 23 March 2024 to Sunday 7 April 2024, we're celebrating our city's vibrant sporting culture and the essence of Australian Rules Football with a program of events and activities.

Check out the fixture of events and activities below.

Before the Bounce Fixture

SATURDAY 23 MARCH

  • Straight to the Pool Room, The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre (23 March - 26 May)
    The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre will cast it’s eyes back to look at some of the ways families celebrated their fandom throughout the history of regional footy. There will be local collections and interactive displays as they take memorabilia ‘Straight to the pool room’ in the King’s Floor. Check out a local collection of regional guernseys and let the kids design their own (with a winning entry being made for them!). Contribute to the scrapbook wall and trophy mantle or checkout the VHS collection and put yourself on the screen and into a collectible footy card. To find out more, click here.
  • Local Trial Match - North Gambier Tigers vs Mundulla Tigers, Vansittart Park
  • Local Trial Match - South Gambier Demons vs Kybybolite Tigers, Blue Lake Sports Park
  • Local Trial Match - West Gambier Kangaroos vs Portland Thunder, Malseed Park

WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH

  • 'The Club' film screening, The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre, 6:00pm
    Hosted by everyone’s favourite drag king ‘Loveit Murray’, join us for a night out at The Riddoch! There will be a screening of the classic 1980 film ‘The Club’ starring Graham Kennedy, Jack Thompson and John Howard. Also on display for one night only, the AFL and SANFL Premiership Cups! Bar service available with complimentary footy food! More information and to book, click here.

THURSDAY 28 MARCH

  • Local Legends, Mount Gambier Library, 10:00am
    As the 2024 AFL season kicks off, the Mount Gambier Library reflect on the many local legends and stories from days gone by. Utilising an abundance of historic photographs, newspaper articles, participants are invited to bring in their own memories to share. To find out more and to book, click here.
  • Gather Round Footy Clinic, Frew Park, 4:30pm
    Kids! Celebrate Gather Round with a free junior footy clinic facilitated by SANFL Game Development staff. Includes a special display featuring the SANFL and 2024 AFL Premiership Cups! To register, click here.
  • Q&A with Erin Phillips OAM, The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre, 6:45pm
    Join us for an evening with AFLW Premiership Player and dual Olympian Erin Phillips OAM on Thursday 28 March 2024. Erin Phillips continues to build her legacy, while balancing a successful radio show and family life. Awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2021 for her services to Basketball and Australian Rules Football, Erin continues to inspire the next generation of female athletes across all sporting codes. To find out more and to book, click here.

FRIDAY 29 MARCH

  • Fringe Mount Gambier's Luminous Laneway, 4:00pm - 10:00pm
    Fringe Mount Gambier presents Luminous Laneway as part of the Fringe Laneways series at the 2024 festival! The laneway next to Presto Eatery will be brought to life with Fringe performers, music, pop-up bars with Koonara Wine, street food and interactive art. For more information, click here.

SATURDAY 30 MARCH

  • Fringe Fiesta - Twilight Markets, 4:00pm - 10:00pm
    Fringe Mount Gambier presents Fringe Fiesta as part of the Fringe Laneways series at the 2024 festival! This fabulous Fringe twilight market will include roving artists, musicians, local artistic stallholders and food and drink vendors. For more information, click here.

TUESDAY 2 APRIL

  • Pom Pom Crafts, Mount Gambier Library (2 April - 7 April)
    Support your favourite team with making pom poms for the AFL season at the Mount Gambier Library! Self sufficient activity for families.
  • Find the Football Competition, Mount Gambier Library (2 April - 7 April)
    Find the hidden footballs scattered throughout the library to go to into the draw to win an AFL football signed by Geelong Cat’s player Brad Close!

THURSDAY 4 APRIL - GATHER ROUND KICKS OFF IN ADELAIDE

FRIDAY 5 APRIL

  • Wear your Colours
    To celebrate our proud sporting city, we’re encouraging schools, businesses and workplaces to show support for their team by wearing their team colours. Join in the footy fever as we celebrate our shared passion for Australian Rules Football!
Before the Bounce 2

Whether you're passing through or staying the week, be sure to experience the best that Mount Gambier has to offer.

Marking halfway into the journey from Melbourne, Mount Gambier provides you with your first taste of South Australia. We are the best place to base yourself from as you explore our city and furthermore, the landscape of sinkholes, cave systems and crater lakes.

We are here to help you explore and immerse yourself in Mount Gambier and surrounds. Visit the Visitor Centre to collect your map, guide and chat with a local about all the wonderful things to do here in the land of the sinkholes, caves and crater lakes.

For all the ‘local’ intel from the team at the Mount Gambier Visitor Centre, head to the Mount Gambier Visitor Centre's Facebook or Instagram page.

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