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BIG EVENT

WANGARATTA’S VESPA BUZZ – 2023 AUSTRALIAN VESPA DAYS WANGARATTA: MARCH 24-26

10 February 2023, Vespa Club of Australia Inc press release - More than 300 Vespa motor scooters from around Australia will converge on Wangaratta during the weekend of March 24-26. Organized by the Vespa Club of Australia, riders from around Australia will meet to celebrate the history of the iconic Italian brand and enjoy rides through the local area.

THE VESPA CLUB OF AUSTRALIA IS A MEMBER OF THE VESPA WORLD CLUB.
VESPA CLUB BRISBANE, VESPA CLUB GOLD COAST, VESPA CLUB SYDNEY, VESPA CLUB OF MELBOURNE, VESPA CLUB ADELAIDE, VESPA CLUB WA PERTH AND VESPA CLUB TOWNSVILLE ARE PART OF VCOA.

A highlight will be a large Saturday morning breakfast meet at Apex Park in Wangaratta, and the local community is freely invited to join in to see Vespas represented from 1946 right through to the modern era.

The President of the Vespa Club of Australia, Ms Julie Pond, said that the club was bringing back the large national Vespa rallies held in Australia during the 1950’s and 60’s. “We’re also trying to bring the European style and tradition of the Vespa World Days over to Australia,” she said. “Thousands attend the annual World Days event in Europe, and each club there also holds its own national Vespa Days like this one.”

Piaggio began manufacturing the Vespa in 1946 as a cheap form of transport in post-war Italy and it quickly became popular around the world. It famously featured in the 1953 film ‘Roman Holiday’ (this year celebrates 70 years! Editor’s note), and the first clubs began forming here in the mid-1950s (the Vespa Club of Italy was among the first: was founded in 1949, editor’s note). The first Vespa club formed in Australia was Vespa Club of Melbourne in May, 1957.
In the 1960s the scooter became intrinsically associated with the mod subculture, and sales have remained strong in Australia to this day.

Photo opportunities:

  • Friday 24 March. 11 AM Apex Park, Wangaratta. Opening ceremony and Welcome To Country.
  • Saturday 25 March 7.30 AM – 12.30 AM Apex Park, Wangaratta. Breakfast meet, Show and Shine.
  • Saturday 25 March 12 PM, Apex Park Wangaratta, Vintage Vespa ride assembly.

Some of those early riders will be represented at the event.” Julie said. “Including Frank Tonon from Vespa House, and two elderly members of the original Vespa Club of Britain are travelling to be here too.”

Source of the image and detailed program: www.vespaclubmelbourne.com.au/auatralian-vds/program

The event has been fully supported by the Rural City of Wangaratta, and the streets around town will be really buzzing with the sounds of Vespa engines. “The Rural City of Wangaratta have been very welcoming, and we’ve enjoyed working with them to put this event together. It’s been a real partnership, and the Council has opened every window possible to make this happen.”
The event will be formally opened by the Mayor, Cr Dean Rees, with a Welcome To Country performed by Bpangeran Elder Uncle Dozer.

For all information and ticketing:  tix.yt/vespa
Email:  admin@vcoa.com.au