Homecoming: Street party to welcome home local Olympians, mark Tweed Regional Museum milestone
A spectacle like no other is in store as the Tweed Regional Museum marks 20 years with Street Party 2024 – and a homecoming for local Paris Olympic Games athletes.
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A spectacle like no other is in store as the Tweed Regional Museum marks 20 years with Street Party 2024 at Murwillumbah – and a homecoming for Paris Olympic Games athletes.
On Saturday, August 31, a pair of the Tweed’s talented competitors will join the fun – marathon swimmer and silver medallist Moesha Johnson and fellow swimmer Isabella Rose Millar, who represented the Solomon Islands in the pool.
The Paralympic Games starts the day prior and suitably the party is also due to include former Paralympic athlete Tracy Lee Barrell OAM.
Ms Barrell, a triple congenital amputee Paralympic swimmer, won two gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Games. She is an advocate for people with disabilities in the region.
The trio will join activities after a Welcome to Country at 12.30pm and they will be on hand to answer questions, sign autographs and take photos, according to Tweed Shire Council.
Funded by the NSW government’s Open Streets Program, the party will run from midday to 7pm.
Queensland Rd, in front of the Tweed Regional Museum, and surrounding streets will be shut for the day.
The announcement of the homecoming for the two athletes comes as the most successful Australian Olympic team ever departs Paris with 18 gold, 19 silver and 16 bronze medals – 53 in total – placing them fourth on the 2024 tally.
The Street Party is set to include live music, flash dance mobs and workshops, the Swamp Beer Garden, Makers Lane, collaborative public art displays, as well as a variety of food offerings – and the Museum on Wheels celebrating “all things Tweed”.
A special Olympic Village marquee will be complete with a winners podium for kids to enjoy.
Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry said it was an incredible achievement for any athlete to make the Olympic team and represent their chosen sport on the world stage.
“They are continuing a proud legacy of Tweed athletes who have represented the country at the highest level,” she said.
Some of the highlights pointed out by the council include:
Going Bananas
Photo ops, chats with Queens and banana graffitiing | 12pm-5pm
“The Tweed Valley Banana Festival Float is back in style, complete with the regal throne and four fabulous Banana Queens. Snap an a-peeling photo as the Banana King, Queen, or just yourself! Graffiti bananas, munch on bananas, and dive into all thing’s banana-tastic.”
Six Seasons Cultural Calendar and Connection to Country
Drop-in yarns | 1pm-5pm
“Experience insightful yarns with Uncle Franc, a Bundjalung elder from the Minyangbal language group. Explore how the adaptive Cultural Calendar, developed by the Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council, reflects seasonal changes influenced by rainfall, temperature, and the behaviour of plants and animals.”
Adventure Game
“Kids, collect your game card and go on an adventure throughout the Museum and the Street Party. Become an explorer and discover hidden stories and fun facts in the Museum exhibitions and activities at the Street Party. You will find answers to questions, contribute to chalk murals, graffiti bananas and more.”
Story Salon at the Museum on Wheels
Drop-in | 12pm-5 pm
“Join us at the Story Salon presented by the Murwillumbah Historical Society and the Museum, where we offer a modern twist on 18th and 19th century French salons. Explore objects on display in the Museum on Wheels, read from local journals, borrow a person to ask questions about the Tweed, and contribute a sentence or two to our collaborative long-form story using our old typewriters. Delve into deep conversations, meet the Historical Society, connect with the community and explore our rich history.”
Tweed Tales Trivia: Tall or True?
“Think you know the Tweed? Can you spot a tall tale from a true one? Ever heard of the Banana Wars, mysterious time capsules, or the phantom postman? Chat with locals and uncover the secrets. Fantastic prizes from Tweed businesses await! 18+.
Local heroes chase Olympic Games glory
Chloe Covell – Skateboarding
Tweed teen sensation Chloe Covell made her Olympic debut in skateboarding, finishing eighth in the final.
Covell started skating at six and by the time she was 12 she became the youngest athlete to achieve two medal wins in the X Games before she was 13.
In 2023, Covell became the youngest women’s street gold medallist in X Games history.
Covell competed in Olympic qualifying series events in the USA, Tokyo and nationally before being selected to represent Australia in Paris.
Flynn Southam – Swimming
Southam came away from Paris with two medals – silver as part of the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay team and a bronze medal as part of the 4 x 200m freestyle relay team.
Flynn, made his Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham in 2022 as the youngest member of the swim team, while still juggling the final year of high school.
From 2020-2022 he broke Australian age-group records set by Kyle Chalmers and Cameron McEvoy. In 2021, he won six gold medals and broke two records at the Australian Age Championships, then won gold in the 200m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 4x50m freestyle relay.
He won gold in the men’s 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays, as well as the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.
He then won four gold medals at the 2022 Junior Pan Pac Championships in the 50m, 100m, 200m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay.
Flynn made a person best in the 200m freestyle at the 2024 Australian championships on the Gold Coast, winning gold with a time of 1:46.11.
Moesha Johnson – Swimming
Marathon swimmer Johnson claimed silver in the 10km swim in the Seine River after finishing sixth in the 1500m final in the pool.
“That was such a hectic race, I was getting bashed out there … people on top of me and people under me, I just had to hold on towards the end.” the 26-year-old said.
Moesha surge into the lead in the final kilometre of the race before a group including Dutch superstar Sharon van Rouwendaal swamped her in the last few metres. But fourth was enough for Moesha to claim an Olympic berth.
Jack Robinson – Surfing
Originally hailing from Western Australia, Robinson finished second for silver in the men’s surfing in Tahiti.
Touted to be a world class surfer when he was a feisty grommet, the aspiring teen thought he could beat world class pro Kelly Slater after he competed as a wildcard at the 2013 Oakley Bali Pro.
Known as a bit of a shaman on tour, Robinson is seen to meditate cross-legged on the beach before his heats and in the water.
After sustaining serious knee damage he worked hard to get right for Paris.
“I had to give my everything for the recovery so I could qualify for the 2024 Olympics,” he said.
Robinson said it was “really challenging” getting the hours of physio and rehab work in every day to be fit enough.
His efforts paid off and Robinson brought home silver in the men’s shortboard.
Jack McVeigh – Basketball
At 203cm tall, the Murwillumbah forward played domestic basketball and later college basketball in the USA before returning to Australia to sign with the Adelaide 36ers.
As his average points per game and rebound stats increased he was soon picked up by the Australian national basketball team, the Boomers.
In a preparation match against China in Melbourne in July, McVeigh was the surprising standout as just 13 minutes off the bench, he led the way with 24 points on 9/13 shooting, including a scorching 6/8 from deep.
The team made the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Serbia.
Isabella Rose Miller – Swimming
Teen swimming sensation, Miller was the sole female athlete representing the Solomon Islands at the Paris Summer Olympic 2024.
After competing as one of three athletes who represented the Solomon Islands at the Oceania Swimming Championships held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Center in April, she was selected to the honour of representing the Solomon Islands in the 50m freestyle heats.
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