Aussies get messy with mangos
Thousands flocked to the annual Mess-tival – a free, one day festival celebrating the peak of the Australian mango season and the official arrival of summer.
The largest Nipper program in the country competed in fast and furious mango-based challenges including mango relay races and mango flag races. This year, for the first time, the Nippers took on the public in a series of eating competition challenges that left no doubt in anyone's mind who the undisputed champions were.
Mango growers from across the country representing Kensington Pride, Honey Gold, Calypso and R2E2 varieties regaled passers by with their stories, whilst the public could pick up free summer swag at a hashtag marquee.
In addition to all the fun and festivities, the event raised an impressive $13,000 AUD for the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, making a total of $38,000 AUD since the event began in 2012.
CEO of the Australian Mango Industry Association, Robert Gray, said:
"Mangoes are without doubt Australia’s favourite summer fruit – everyone has a summer memory of running through the sprinklers with mango mush all over their face, or waiting for dad to come home with the first tray of the season. It is a fruit that is deeply entrenched in our nation’s heart and memory. With Mess-tival, our ambition is to remind people why mangoes are their favourite summer fruit and create new mango memories for years to come.
Special thanks to our growers who work tirelessly all year round, and the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club – both of whom Mess-tival would never be possible."
President of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, Mark Cotter, said:
“This is the third year of our partnership with Australian Mangoes and in those three years, the event has raised $13,000. I’m delighted to see it grow in scale and popularity every year. I hope we keep raising funds to ensure our club can continue to provide essential services and lifesaving equipment for the North Bondi community. A sincere thank you to everyone who has contributed to Mess-tival 2014 in some way.”