Last week, the Barossa Valley Vintage Festival brought together locals and visitors for a five-day celebration of food, wine, arts, exploration, heritage and community. The festival, which happens every two years, is one of the longest-running regional events in the country.

One of the festival highlights was the Vintage Festival Parade, a Barossa tradition since 1948. This year marked the 75th anniversary of the parade, with 44 floats traveling 8km from Tanunda to Nuriootpa, making it the longest parade in the southern hemisphere. Visitors also enjoyed spotting the Barossa scarecrows, a true symbol of the Vintage season.

MDRS students and staff members from the Barossa Valley participated in the parade as “Carecrows,” dressed in scrubs with straw hats. They walked alongside the Flinders University Van, which had a CPR demonstration in the back, and handed out Flinders University merchandise to the large crowd along the 8km journey. The Barossa Valley MDRS team added a fun and engaging touch to the community parade, making it a memorable experience for everyone involved.