The skies above West Sale Airport buzzed with excitement as the 2024 ANZAC Weekend Airshow unfolded across 27 and 28 April. Attracting more than 14,000 attendees, the Airshow not only honoured the ANZACs but also marked this year's most significant event for The Middle of Everywhere.
Building on the success of the inaugural 2022 event, this year's airshow showcased a blend of aerial acrobatics and community spirit, aligned with ANZAC Day commemorations. The event featured performances by commercial pilots and the Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes, alongside flybys and demonstrations by the highly skilled team from Paul Bennet Airshows.
Additional attractions included car and motorcycle displays, a vintage fashion show, a variety of local food vendors, live music and local business stallholders to ensure a memorable experience for all ages.
This year, there were plenty of activities for the whole family, with new inclusions such as flight simulators, the Hot Wheels Stunt Team, craft activities and virtual reality headsets. There was free entry to the Gippsland Armed Forces Museum and the new Defence and Aviation Employment Hub, featuring exhibits from Jet Aviation, Pilatus, Lockheed Martin, ESSO and the RAAF, attracted substantial attention, with strong community engagement across all exhibitors' stands.
The weekend's festivities commenced with an official launch on Friday 26 April at the Port of Sale, attended by Wellington Shire Councillors and major event partners Destination Gippsland, the Wellington Defence Alliance, RAAF Base East Sale, ESSO and event delivery partner - Pace Advertising.
On the evening, Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye said that Wellington was extremely proud to host the ANZAC Weekend Airshow in The Middle of Everywhere.
"Not only does this event celebrate our aviation heritage and the ANZAC spirit, but also contributes significantly to the local economy in Wellington," Cr Bye said.
"The Airshow represents the best opportunity for us to showcase who we are and all that we have to offer in our community. The West Sale Airport is an incredible asset, and we're committed to strengthening our relationships with our aviation and Defence allies, as well as with the tenants and established businesses onsite, to guarantee the event's return in two years' time."
The event is expected to surpass the $1.36 million generated in 2022, solidifying the Airshow as a pivotal driver for regional tourism and economic development. Local accommodations, pubs and clubs saw substantial benefits from the influx of visitors, highlighting how the event's impact extends across various industries and sectors.
The successful weekend was capped off with the inaugural Pitmaster competition in nearby Maffra which attracted around 2,500 attendees, many of whom were also Airshow visitors.
The Middle of Everywhere will be excited to share more about the 2026 event as details are confirmed. The next major event will be The Middle of Everywhere Gippsland Rally held from the 9-11 August 2024 and is one not to be missed!
