And today is .......

[tiger_one]

The Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) starts on Saturday, August 8.

Across Australia, all six Australian states host an annual Royal Show. These major agricultural and cultural exhibitions are coordinated by the Royal Agricultural Society (or equivalent) in each state's capital city.

But this one is all about the Banana Benders, north of the border, and is the “biggie” up north.

The Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) is Queensland's largest and most loved annual event, attracting more than 428,000 people. Run by the RNA and staged at its original birthplace, the Brisbane Showgrounds, the Ekka brings the country and city together for a true celebration of agriculture.

And this year is special: In 2026, the Ekka celebrates an incredible milestone - 150 years of bringing Queenslanders together for the state’s biggest and most loved event.

For 150 years, the Ekka has brought more than 35 million Queenslanders together, creating traditions and memories cherished across generations. It attracts and unites more than 400,000 people each year.

The Ekka showcases the very best of Queensland, annually attracting more than 21,000 competition entries from woodchop to giant vegetables, 10,000 animals from beef cattle to cats and dogs, world-class live entertainment, award-winning food and wine, carnival rides and showbags, family shopping, educational activities and much more.

The iconic show has been running since 1876 and is full of traditions, a unique atmosphere and childhood memories that have been passed down through generations of families.

Running for nine days in August at the historic Brisbane Showgrounds, it features blue-ribbon animals, carnival rides, the famous Strawberry Sundaes, and hundreds of showbags.

Ekka brings the country and city together for a true celebration of agriculture. With hundreds of free activities and things to see, including animal adventures, agriculture competitions, rides, live music, show bags, cookery and garden displays, children's entertainment, fireworks displays and so much more!

No trip to the Ekka is complete without indulging in the event's iconic culinary traditions. Each year, crowds devour over 140,000 Strawberry Sundaes (which help fund the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation), over 32,000 cheese toasties, and more than 180,000 Dagwood Dogs. Beyond the food, the Courier-Mail Showbag Pavilion is a massive attraction, offering hundreds of different novelties and confectionery showbags.

Well, if you’re local, what’s stopping you.
It’s time to party, EKKA-style.



Fun Facts about the EKKA:

• The name "Ekka" is simply Queensland slang. It’s an abbreviation of the original name, the "Brisbane Exhibition."
• The first ever showbag was a bag of coalThe famous Ekka strawberry sundae was introduced in 1950 by Paul’s dairy company.
• The Ekka is a massive operation that generates over $220 million for the Brisbane economy and relies on more than 1,500 volunteers to run.

"It's showtime, and there's something for everyone to enjoy"

"Bring the country to the city each year, the Ekka is more than just a show - it is Queensland, on show”

"Where else can you cuddle a baby lamb, eat a Dagwood Dog, and ride a Ferris wheel in a single afternoon"

"Showbag Pavilion: Where time and money magically disappear”

 

[tiger_one]

110 years ago today, Australian troops pushed on from Pozières toward Mouquet Farm.

It took four gruelling weeks to reach it, and three more before it finally fell.

Over six weeks of fighting for Pozières and Mouquet Farm, some 23,000 Australians became casualties, almost 6,800 of them killed.

Lest we forget.

 

[tiger_one]

Rice Pudding Day spoons onto our calendars each August 9. All we want to do it dive spoon-first into a big bowl of homemade rice pudding. Maybe give rice pudding a gourmet twist with a hint of vanilla and a crunchy brulee topping. Today is the day.

Rice pudding's popularity in Australia stems from its legacy as a cheap, warm British comfort food that seamlessly fits the country's agricultural abundance.

Rice pudding. It’s sweet, creamy and carby: the ultimate trifecta for a winter dessert.

A traditional baked rice pudding is one of the simplest desserts to make, consisting of rice, milk, cream, sugar, eggs and whatever spices you love (we think cinnamon and nutmeg are top tier, though).

Signature of a classic rice pudding is the ever-so-dividing skin that forms on top. It’s always satisfying to puncture through it to get to the gorgeous gloop below.

It hits the spot because it perfectly pairs the comforting chew of soft, starchy rice with a rich, velvety milk or cream base. When gently simmered, the rice releases its natural starches to create a custard-like texture, delivering a deeply satisfying, warming sweetness.

Over the years, it became a staple in school canteens and households cementing it as a nostalgic comfort food for generations of Australians.

Australia's Riverina region in New South Wales produces some of the world's highest-quality, disease-free short and medium-grain rice. Because these varieties naturally release starch and thicken, they are ideal for creating a creamy pudding.

The Australian preference for quick convenience is met by commercially produced canned "creamed rice" (such as Heinz Creamed Rice or supermarket private labels). It is 99% fat-free, long-lasting, and easily consumed cold or warmed up on chilly winter nights.

Australia's multicultural population has embraced the dessert in various forms. For instance, the Greek variation (rizogalo) is incredibly popular and commercially successful, with locally made products like House of Rizs frequently winning national dairy awards.

Rice pudding can be a healthy, comforting choice when eaten in moderation. A typical 1/2-cup serving contains around 150 calories and provides calcium, iron, and protein. However, because it is calorie-dense and often made with added sugar, its overall healthiness depends heavily on how it is prepared.

A rice pudding's nutrition reveals that the creamy dessert isn't such a bad choice. While it does contain a fair amount of sugar, it also offers some nutrients. Calling rice pudding “healthy” may be a bit of a stretch, but it certainly offers some good nutritional qualities, including calcium, iron and protein.

It is ideal for those with a small appetite and it's also easier to digest. It's a good source of fibre, which helps with regular bowel movements and reduces the risk of constipation. Plus, it's easy to prepare. Rice pudding will last in the fridge for 3 to 5 days when stored properly. Because it contains dairy and rice, it spoils quickly and should never be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.



Home-made or shop bought, rice pudding is always a crowd pleaser.
Just hits that spot.
Now just one more question.
With ice cream or plain?



Fun Facts about Rice Pudding:

• In Sweden, rice pudding is a popular dish at Christmas. An almond is traditionally hidden inside the pudding, with the person who eats it believed to get married the next year.
• Rice puddings are found in nearly every area of the world. Recipes can greatly vary even within a single country.
• Cuisines all over the world have been jazzing it up in different ways for years. The Danish version is risalamande, flavoured with almond and a warm cherry sauce; the Greeks add egg yolks; the Turkish make it with cinnamon and serve it cold; and in India it’s infused with cardamom and rose water, and known as kheer. All YUMM!

“Keep it rice and simple”

“Rice pudding is like a hug in a bowl”

“Nostalgia in a bowl”

“Life happens. Rice pudding helps”

 

[tiger_one]

Banana Split Day peels onto our calendars each August 10.

This is easily one of the best days of the year for those with a sweet tooth, with a serving of healthy fruit thrown in. Even the name is appealing. It is called a banana split because the foundational step of the dessert is taking a peeled banana and cutting (or "splitting") it in half lengthwise down the middle. The two long halves are laid flat against the sides of a boat-shaped dish to cradle the scoops of ice cream and various syrups nestled between them.

Most people have either tried or at least heard of the banana split at some point. It's one of those classic desserts that never goes out of style. Famous and beloved for its perfect combination of flavor and texture, it's a treat enjoyed by both kids and adults alike.

Who can resist a delightful trio of creamy scoops of ice cream, crowned with a medley of toppings that create a harmonious blend of flavours and textures, all brought together under an umbrella of bananas. Maybe even add maraschino cherries, strawberries, hot fudge, and anything else you want. This is a dessert to delight the senses!

While bananas may be covered in ice cream and a few other sweet temptations, bananas themselves offer a number of different health benefits. This can make you feel better about eating a banana split! Bananas, for example, are an excellent source of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6, in turn, provides several great benefits.

This helps us to maintain a healthy nervous system, remove unwanted chemicals from your kidneys and liver, metabolize amino acids, metabolize fats and carbohydrates, turning them into energy, and produce red blood cells.

The good news does not end there. There are a few more benefits that are associated with bananas. This includes potassium, which meets around 10 percent of your potassium intake. It also contains manganese, which helps to protect your skin through the creation of collagen, as well as protecting other cells from free radical damage.

Bananas are also a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C supports brain health through the production of serotonin, which impacts our moods, sleep cycle, and experiences of pain and stress. Vitamin C helps your body produce collagen, absorb iron better, and protect your body against tissue and cell damage.

We Aussies love our bananas and enjoy the classic banana split as a nostalgic treat.

Over 90% of Australian households buy bananas, making banana-based desserts naturally appealing. Going back in time, we might have enjoyed a ginormous banana split at The Big Banana Fun Park as a rite of passage.

These days, mass-market ice cream brands like Peters regularly release banana-split-flavoured tubs to tap into local demand for the flavour profile.

Retro milk bars, and dessert parlours across the country still feature the traditional glass boat dish with ice cream, whipped cream, and syrup. Any visit to the Paragon Café in Goulburn, for example, would have their tempting Banana Split high on their menu.

And bringing this dessert into the minds and tummies of Gen X, even Tik Tok is obsessed with an air fryer banana split recipe/video where it turns the banana split into the ultimate "healthy" air fryer dessert. And young ones, ever up for a challenge, have joined the "banana split challenge", putting their own spin by adding ice cream and other toppings. Banna splits are back, big time.

It’s time to peel back and enjoy the fruits and the ice cream and any topping that you fancy.

Now.





Fun Fact about Banana Split:

• The world's longest recorded banana split measured 8,040 meters (26,377 feet 11.4 inches / 8.04 kilometres). It happened on March 25, 2017, by the Feast of the Senses festival committee and local volunteers in Innisfail, Queensland, Australia. It used 40,000 bananas, 2,500 litres of ice cream, 2000 litres of topping with purpose of the creation being to procure funds to aid/support local farmers and celebrate community recovery after severe weather damage.

“I'm not monkeying around; this is the top banana of desserts”

“I came for one scoop and stayed for three”

“Going bananas today, maybe with a scoop or three of ice cream too”

“Banana believe it”