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In this update
- News from Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre
- Music on the Murray at St Leonards Vineyard
- Rutherglen Farmers Market
- Mother's Day at Cofield Wines
- Mother's Day Lunch at Tuileries
- A Night with Rex at James & Co Wines
- Taste of England at Tuileries
- Rutherglen Community Garden Open Day
- News from Chiltern Visitor Information Centre
- Beginner spoon carving workshop with Nat Ord
- Industry News and Support
- Business Sentiment Survey 2025
- Regional Events Fund applications now open
- Nominations now open for 2025 Victorian Tourism Awards
- Revenue Management for Accommodation Businesses workshop
From Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre
Hello everyone,
April brought remarkable energy to Rutherglen over the Easter period. The Centre was bustling with visitors and lots (!) of bike hire services. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to Leo Anic from Corowa Sportspower, who dedicated his entire Easter Saturday morning to fixing countless visitor bike tyres. We are very lucky to live in an area with such kind and generous people! We are planning a campaign against bindi-eyes and looking at more resilient tyre options.
Congratulations also to the Rutherglen RSL Club, Rutherglen Rotary and Rutherglen Rumble committees for very successful events over the ANZAC Day long weekend. Rutherglen was certainly buzzing with activities.
On a sombre note, we extend our sincere condolences to Dawn, Gary, Nicole and Scott Sanders on the tragic loss of Kylie Sanders. Kylie was a valued member of the community through her work at the original café at the Rutherglen Information Centre and was well-liked and respected by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
From the Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre team
Music on the Murray
St Leonards Vineyard
201 St Leonards Road, Wahgunyah
Saturday 3 May
Open from 11:00am, with live music from 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Spend a dreamy afternoon by the river with Music on the Murray at St Leonards, where rolling vines meet the soulful sounds of Yours Georgina. With her signature blend of folk, rock, and a hint of country, Yours Georgina delivers heartfelt storytelling and lush melodies that feel right at home beneath the gum trees.
Rutherglen Farmers' Market
Rutherglen Lions Park
Douglas Street, Rutherglen
Sunday 11 May
9:00am - 12:30pm
Head down to Lions Park on Sunday 11 May for all your locally made and grown products. Enjoy a tasty egg and bacon roll cooked by the Rutherglen Lions Club while you're there!
Mother's Day at Cofield Wines
Cofield Wines
341 Distillery Road, Wahgunyah
Sunday 11 May
11:00am - 5:00pm
Celebrate Mother's Day at Cofield Wines, where everyone can enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the lawn with live music by RIFF from 12:00pm-4:00pm, complimentary wine tastings, delicious food options, and a full selection of beverages including cocktails, local beers, and soft drinks.
This family-friendly event features jumping castles, face painting, and lawn games to keep everyone entertained. There’ll be ample seating available (although bringing your own picnic blanket or camp chairs is recommended) and well-behaved pets on leads welcome. Please note that no BYO food or drink is permitted.
Mother's Day Lunch at Tuileries
Tuileries at De Bortoli Rutherglen
13-35 Drummond Street, Rutherglen
Sunday 11 May
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Treat Mum to a special lunch at Tuileries this Mother's Day, where all mothers will receive a complimentary welcome drink and petit fours to finish their meal. Guests can choose from a two or three course menu complemented by side options, cocktails, and small bites, with a children's menu also available for the little ones.
A Night with Rex – the last man standing at the water tower
James & Co Wines
136 Main Street, Rutherglen
Thursday 15 May
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Join the Wine Bottle Committee and Rutherglen Historical Society for a fascinating evening with Rex Humphreys, fondly known as "the last man standing at the tower" and a beloved local who dedicated his career to overseeing the water tower (now the iconic Wine Bottle) operations, pumping processes, and engineering.
Entry is just $5, with proceeds supporting the long-term maintenance of the Wine Bottle, while drinks and nibbles will be available for purchase separately. Bookings are essential, so secure your spot by calling 0448 881 670.
Taste of England at Tuileries
Tuileries at De Bortoli Rutherglen
13-35 Drummond Street, Rutherglen
Friday 16 May
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Take your taste buds to a "Ye Olde English Pub" with a mouth-watering dinner curated by Tuileries Head Chef Emma, who draws on her extensive experience with traditional British cuisine from her time in the UK. The premium banquet-style service means you can relax as course after course arrives at your table, including authentic favourites like Scotch Eggs & Piccalilly, Cullen Skink, and Spotted Dick.
Rutherglen Community Garden Open Day
Rutherglen Community Garden
High Street, Rutherglen
Sunday 18 May
10:00am - 11:00am
The new Rutherglen Community Garden is located in front of the cattle shed at the Rutherglen Showgrounds, facing High Street.
At this open day, visitors will receive a warm welcome with updates on progress, have opportunities to ask questions, contribute to future planning, and complete questionnaires to help shape this growing community space.
Chiltern Visitor Information Centre Update
Hello everyone,
What a vibrant season we're having in Chiltern! Easter brought perfect weather and delighted visitors from near and far.
Easter Monday was particularly special as we welcomed approximately 50 magnificent MG cars for their annual Discovery Run. These vintage vehicles provided a stunning spectacle against the backdrop of our historic streets - a perfect blend of heritage past and present.
The town has recently seen some changes to local retailers, with a few changes still to come. It's always worth popping back to check out the great offerings from our amazing businesses.
Don’t forget, the information centre team is here to assist you to create or renew your Explore Chiltern website business listing. Please join in and help make Chiltern’s online presence richer and our town a must-visit destination! Your website listing (technical term - Australian Tourism Data Warehouse or ‘ATDW’ listing) appears on our own Explore Chiltern website, the regional website Victoria’s High Country and Visit Victoria – one listing reaching an audience of millions.
Once again, your listing is totally free as Council is subsidising the cost of renewal for you (it’s normally $295). To receive your promo code for a free listing, or if you need any help, please contact the Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre on 02 6033 6306.
Have a fantastic fortnight.
Chiltern Visitor Information Centre Team
Beginner spoon carving workshop
Nat Ord Artist Studio
53 Conness Street, Chiltern
Saturday 14 June
10:00am - 4:00pm
Immerse yourself in this intimate full-day greenwood spoon carving workshop, where you'll transform raw materials into a functional cooking utensil using traditional hand-carving techniques.
Expert instruction from local artist Nat Ord ensures safe tool handling as you craft a personalised spoon to take home. All necessary tools, materials, and morning refreshments are provided (please bring lunch).
Open to participants ages 14 and older - perfect for both beginners and those looking to refine their woodworking skills.
Events
Please list your events on ATDW so that they appear on this calendar. Your event listing will also appear on explorerutherglen.com.au or explorechiltern.com.au, Victoria’s High Country and Visit Victoria's websites. If you require assistance please contact the Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre.
Saturday 3 May - Music on the Murray at St Leonards Vineyard
Sunday 11 May - Rutherglen Farmers Market
Sunday 11 May - Mother's Day Lunch at Tuileries
Sunday 11 May - Mother's Day at Cofield Wines
Sunday 11 May - Sunday Series at The Victoria Hotel
Thursday 15 May - A night with Rex Humphreys at James & Co Wines
Friday 16 May - Taste of England at Tuileries
Sunday 18 May - Rutherglen Community Garden Open Day
Sunday 25 May - Sunday Series at The Victoria Hotel
Friday 30 May - Super Tuscan Friday at James & Co Wines
Saturday 31 May - Opening of Arts Rutherglen First
Nations Canoe and Pronged Spear at Lake King Wetlands
Sunday 1 June - Chiltern Winter Market
Saturday 14 June - Beginner spoon carving workshop with Nat Ord
Industry News and Support
Business Sentiment Survey 2025
Indigo Shire Council's Economic Development Team is launching the annual Business Sentiment Survey this May, seeking valuable input from all Indigo Shire businesses, especially those who participated in the survey last year.
The anonymous survey takes just minutes to complete and will help the team measure how business sentiment has changed since May 2024.
The team will then collate the aggregated data to provide a snapshot of how business operators are feeling across Indigo Shire this year and compare with the results of May 2024. The results will be reported in June 2025.
Your participation directly supports our efforts to develop targeted strategies that strengthen Indigo Shire's economy and business community.
Regional Events Fund - Event Growth and Development
The Regional Events Fund (REF) has been established to attract and support events held in regional Victoria that bring visitors from outside the region, create job opportunities and contribute to the local visitor economy.
Funding of up to $500,000 is available in Stream 2 - Event Growth and Development to grow the impact of medium to large scale events in the regions.
Applications will be considered from private and public sector groups and organisations from 1 May 2025, closing on 30 June 2025.
Nominations now open - 2025 Victorian Tourism Awards
The Victorian Tourism Awards are the pinnacle of excellence for the Victorian tourism industry.
The Awards encourage businesses to meet and exceed industry standards, and play an integral role in acknowledging business excellence, innovation, professionalism and collaboration.
This year with an increased focus on business sustainability, the questions have been updated and simplified, making it easier for entrants to enter in the many categories.
Nominations close on Wednesday 28 May 2025.
Revenue Management for Accommodation Businesses
Thursday 15 May
10:00am - 3:30pm
Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre
Have you ever heard the terms revenue management, yield management, distribution channels, commission structures and wanted to know more?
Join Tourism North East for a free, in-person workshop to take deep dive into the latest accommodation and dining research for Victoria’s High Country and uncover visitor preferences, motivations and expectations. Look at the foundational key performance indicators of revenue management for accommodation businesses. Lunch provided.
