Latest news with #BrendanChristou
Perth Now
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Milestone year for sweet treat at beloved annual show
A one-of-a-kind sweet treat is set to celebrate 75 years, with almost half a million people expected to help mark the milestone. From prime ministers to punters, a signature strawberry sundae has been savoured by all walks of life since its 1950 debut at the Royal Queensland Show, affectionately dubbed the Ekka. Demand is again expected to be high when the Ekka exclusive mix of fruit and dairy returns to centre stage at the Brisbane show from Saturday. About 180,000 strawberry sundaes are expected to be snapped up across the Ekka's nine days at the RNA Showgrounds. The 149th annual Ekka will feature new rides and everything from monster trucks to livestock and food stalls, attracting more than 400,000 people and injecting $200 million into the Queensland economy. However, its strawberry sundae will arguably remain the main attraction. A combination of fresh strawberries, ice cream made from a secret recipe and whipped cream in a crispy cone, the sundae is the culmination of months of preparation. About 35,000 litres of the sundae's special ice cream has reportedly been made to keep up with demand. Showgoers this year can pre-order the sundae when they buy tickets online, the show's organisers said. Wet weather is forecast for the Ekka's opening day but has not dampened expectations, with 50,000 people expected through the gates on Saturday. "It's a bit patchy in the first day or two, and then it's looking not too bad," Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) chief executive Brendan Christou told reporters. "It's going to be a good show." The Ekka remains true to its roots as an agricultural show, with about 21,000 entries across 46 categories, including livestock, cookery and art. "That's what the Ekka is all about. It's about bringing the country to the city," Mr Christou said. More than 10,000 animals will feature - competing, in stalls or at the popular petting zoo. The Ekka will boast more than 400 showbags, an upgrade from its humble beginnings almost 150 years ago. Back in 1876, the first Ekka showbag contained only coal.
Sydney Morning Herald
05-08-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Eight tonnes of strawberries, 180,000 cones: What goes into the Ekka's famous sundaes
As the Ekka nears, in a room somewhere at the Brisbane Showgrounds, refrigerated containers hold some incredibly valuable ingredients – the components that make up the beloved strawberry sundae. Showground staff have worked for months to source everything for their stall. That includes ordering nearly 200,000 ice-cream cones. 'There are about 180,000 cones, it's about eight tonnes of fresh strawberries that we've got coming in, thousands of litres of Lick Ice Cream will go into it, as well as the fresh cream that will go on top. It's a huge operation,' RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said. Lick Ice Cream supplied an estimated 25,000 litres of strawberry ice-cream and 15,000 litres of white ice-cream – all handmade in Brisbane. 'Believe it or not, it's all handmade locally in Brisbane and production commences in early May every year. This is our 15th year of supplying to the Ekka,' Lick chief executive Simon West explained. This will be the first year the RNA is running the food stall after the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation handed over the reins. 'It's a real logistical effort, and we've got a whole team of food and beverage staff who are doing that for us this year, and it's going to be massive,' Christou said. While the sundae itself remained unchanged – 'the recipe is exactly the same, and it's what people have grown to love' – how it would be served would be upgraded.
The Age
05-08-2025
- Business
- The Age
Eight tonnes of strawberries, 180,000 cones: What goes into the Ekka's famous sundaes
As the Ekka nears, in a room somewhere at the Brisbane Showgrounds, refrigerated containers hold some incredibly valuable ingredients – the components that make up the beloved strawberry sundae. Showground staff have worked for months to source everything for their stall. That includes ordering nearly 200,000 ice-cream cones. 'There are about 180,000 cones, it's about eight tonnes of fresh strawberries that we've got coming in, thousands of litres of Lick Ice Cream will go into it, as well as the fresh cream that will go on top. It's a huge operation,' RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said. Lick Ice Cream supplied an estimated 25,000 litres of strawberry ice-cream and 15,000 litres of white ice-cream – all handmade in Brisbane. 'Believe it or not, it's all handmade locally in Brisbane and production commences in early May every year. This is our 15th year of supplying to the Ekka,' Lick chief executive Simon West explained. This will be the first year the RNA is running the food stall after the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation handed over the reins. 'It's a real logistical effort, and we've got a whole team of food and beverage staff who are doing that for us this year, and it's going to be massive,' Christou said. While the sundae itself remained unchanged – 'the recipe is exactly the same, and it's what people have grown to love' – how it would be served would be upgraded.
Sydney Morning Herald
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Game-changer': Construction finishes on upgraded Exhibition station
People catching the train to the Caravan and Camping Supershow on Wednesday will be the first to experience the much-anticipated revamp of the train station at Brisbane's RNA Showgrounds. The upgrade of the Exhibition station after years of construction brings new lifts, wider platforms, better shading and accessibility features such as hearing aid loops. But the station will operate only for major events, including Brisbane's annual agricultural show, the Ekka, and this week's caravan and camping show, until Cross River Rail opens in 2029. RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said the facilities would be a 'game-changer' for his organisation and the events precinct around Bowen Hills, which was set to host an athletes village for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032. The station was still under construction during last year's Ekka, but would be operational for this year's event, in about 10 weeks. 'It's been a tough couple of years and we've worked really well with Translink in particular and QR on the alternative plans, but there's nothing like coming to the show on a train,' Christou said. 'We look forward to everyone coming and enjoying the experience of this new station. I'm sure they'll see what we see, which is this fantastic, much more accessible, easy to access, station for all of those patrons of the show.' Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the station would be open year-round when Cross River Rail opened to passengers in 2029.
The Age
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘Game-changer': Construction finishes on upgraded Exhibition station
People catching the train to the Caravan and Camping Supershow on Wednesday will be the first to experience the much-anticipated revamp of the train station at Brisbane's RNA Showgrounds. The upgrade of the Exhibition station after years of construction brings new lifts, wider platforms, better shading and accessibility features such as hearing aid loops. But the station will operate only for major events, including Brisbane's annual agricultural show, the Ekka, and this week's caravan and camping show, until Cross River Rail opens in 2029. RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said the facilities would be a 'game-changer' for his organisation and the events precinct around Bowen Hills, which was set to host an athletes village for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032. The station was still under construction during last year's Ekka, but would be operational for this year's event, in about 10 weeks. 'It's been a tough couple of years and we've worked really well with Translink in particular and QR on the alternative plans, but there's nothing like coming to the show on a train,' Christou said. 'We look forward to everyone coming and enjoying the experience of this new station. I'm sure they'll see what we see, which is this fantastic, much more accessible, easy to access, station for all of those patrons of the show.' Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the station would be open year-round when Cross River Rail opened to passengers in 2029.
