Gunnedah Australia Day activities lined up

Indigenous and non-Indigenous teams will once again compete for the Wayne Griffiths Cup and the Donna Smith-Hickey Cup.

The women's sides will be off and running from 9.30am, followed by the men's competition at 10.05am.

Last year, the men's Indigenous side took out the Wayne Griffiths Cup, 7-5, and the women's non-Indigenous side took out the Donna Smith-Hickey Cup, 3-2.

The touch football competition was launched at Aussiefest in 2018 as the result of a conversation between John Hickey and Gamilaroi man Wayne Griffiths.

"We're very proud of the tradition of having the Indigenous population take part but also helping to organise different activities on the day. We're leaning more and more towards that," Mr Hickey said.

"Certainly, it's been great for Gunnedah to be a leader in that area."

The bar will be open from 10am and plenty of activities are scheduled for the day.

The dog dash at 10.45am is sure to be entertaining as working dogs, pig dogs and "the town mutt" race a 100m strip.

At 11am, hot-footed locals can compete in the 100m Dash for Cash.

Mr Hickey said the runners in the women's dash were usually a "mystery" until the day, but the men's dash was hotly contended.

There's always a new young guy coming through for 100m so that will be worthwhile as well," he said.

"Aaron Donnelly has been one of the most consistent runners, and one of the best runners, in the last 10 years but he says he's getting too old and fat but his brother James is still running well and he ran it last year.

"There are a number of young guys coming through who will challenge these guys so I'm looking forward to seeing who will run on the day."

After the dash, Gunnedah's best damper, scones, lamingtons, family-sized meat pies, ginger beer, pickles, relishes and jams will be judged.

Also on the cards is the beer mile at 11.45am, touch shoot-out at 12.15pm and Gunnedah's Strongest Man and Woman competitions at 2pm.

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The strength competition will be run by Gunnedah Crossfit and the timed obstacle course will test competitors' strength and stamina.

Mr Hickey said it was disappointing that the raft race couldn't go ahead a second year in a row but in the meantime, he encouraged locals to come along and have a go.

"It's about coming out and participating in everyday activities that Gunnedah people have done for a lot of years now ... things that would have taken place 100 years ago," he said.

"It's really about families getting together and having fun."

There are prizes for all events and a jumping castle will keep the kids entertained.