The Southern Barossa Business Group is looking at ways it may be able to contribute to Gawler’s Carnival of Cups, an event expected to attract hundreds of horse, greyhound and harness racing fans to the Gawler Race Course this coming October.

SBBG Members were inspired by a presentation by the Carnival’s organisers Aaron Bain and Sally Collings at the SBBG’s June ‘Business at Sunset’ event, held at Kies Winery in Lyndoch last week.

The event attracted key business owners and managers from across the Southern Barossa region keen to learn more about the Carnival of Cups’ events and its benefits to Gawler and the region as a whole.

Chair of the SBBG, Steve Balch, said afterwards that the briefing inspired Southern Barossa businesses to investigate how they could support and add to the event.

“Aaron and Sally’s passion was infectious and as a result we are keen to support them in making the Carnival a huge success for the region.

“Immediately we could see opportunities to promote Southern Barossa wines, perhaps with a ‘wine tent’ and product placement at the week’s events, and offering half-day or day tours into the Southern Barossa.

“Our region not only offers ‘traditional’ wine and food opportunities, but, uniquely, we offer day-tourists the chance to take in regional forests, the South Para and Warren reservoirs and the Whispering Wall in Williamstown, Mr Balch said.

The ‘Business at Sunset’ event is also increasing its contribution to the Southern Barossa, Mr Balch said, providing an important forum for the region’s businesses to network and to value-add to the region’s offerings.