By Casey OÇonnor
The Allora community will come on the evening of Friday, 14 October, to congratulate and celebrate local hero and Commonwealth Gold Medallist Matthew Denny following his success at the recent Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Denny has slipped into Allora several times since his Gold Medal success at the Games to visit family, but this will be the first chance the community has had to celebrate one of the town’s favourite sports people according to Gold’n Stars Dinner organiser Sue Higgins.
“This is our (Allora’s ) chance to celebrate, not just a gold medallist and champion athlete but someone who is a champions person,” Higgins said.
“Matt is such a great and humble human being and never misses the opportunity to advocate for his hometown and the local community or thank his family when he is on the world stage.
“This will be our chance to catch up with him and say, ‘thank you.”
The Gold’n Stars Dinner will be held under a marquee on the lawn behind the Commercial Hotel, Allora.
The evening will include a Q and A session with Matt where he will answer questions about his incredible journey so far and share his plans, dreams and aspirations for the future.
Numbers for event are strictly limited.
Top paddock will be providing a two-course meal and tickets which are $55 per person are available from the Allora Newsagency or online via Eventbrite.
All the details can be found on the Gold’n Stars Dinner Facebook page.
Denny will visit both the Allora State School and St Patrick’s School earlier in the day to speak with students and share the story of his journey from Allora to the world stage with them along with some of the secrets of his technique with them. Students will I believe get the opportunity to throw a discus with the champion.
Prior to the dinner (from around 5pm) members of the public will have an opportunity to meet Matt Denny outside the Allora Sports Museum to chat, sign autographs or memorabilia.
Sue Higgins said the dinner will also provide an opportunity for the Allora community to come together.
“It is a wonderful example of the great sense of community in the small community of Allora,” she said.
“Business have been wonderful with their support of the event which would not be happening if it were not for the support of the Allora Sports Museum and some assistance from the Southern Downs Regional Council.”
