Thanks to a fantastic group of volunteers who have stepped up to help bring back this much-loved community event, we’re excited to announce that the Cummins Christmas Festival is happening this year on Friday 11th December, and we’re looking for food vendors and food stalls to join us for a fantastic evening of Christmas celebrations!

With locals and visitors coming together to enjoy the festivities, it’s a great opportunity to showcase your food.

We’re looking for:

-Food trucks and food vans

-Sweet treats and desserts

-Coffee, drinks and refreshments

-Local food businesses and community groups

Whether you’re a local business, community organisation or travelling food vendor, we’d love to hear from you! So if you’re interested in having a food stall, simply email us at cdec@lec.sa.gov.au or send the festival committee a message on Facebook for more information and to secure your spot.

Come along, set up your stall and be part of a great night celebrating Christmas in Cummins!

The Cummins community has another reason to celebrate, with the town officially announced as a finalist in the 2026 Agricultural Town of the Year Awards.

This recognition highlights the vital role Cummins plays in South Australia’s agricultural landscape and acknowledges the dedication, innovation and community spirit that continue to make the town thrive. From broadacre cropping and livestock production to agricultural services, local businesses and community organisations, Cummins has built a strong reputation as a resilient and forward-thinking rural community.

The Agricultural Town of the Year Awards recognise regional towns that demonstrate excellence in agriculture while embracing innovation, sustainability and community collaboration. Becoming a finalist reflects the collective efforts of local farmers, businesses, volunteers, organisations and residents who work together to support the district’s continued success.

Agriculture has always been at the heart of Cummins. Generations of farming families have helped shape the region, while local enterprises continue to invest in new technologies, sustainable practices and opportunities that strengthen both the local economy and the wider agricultural industry.

Beyond the farm gate, Cummins is known for its welcoming community, strong volunteer culture, thriving sporting clubs, local events and commitment to supporting future generations. These qualities contribute to making Cummins not only an outstanding agricultural town, but also a wonderful place to live, work and visit.

Being named a finalist is an achievement the entire community can be proud of. It reflects the passion, resilience and collaboration that define Cummins and the people who call it home.

Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to this achievement. Let’s celebrate this fantastic milestone together and cheer on Cummins as we await the final results

The Cummins Christmas Wonderland Committee recently held their AGM, read the Chair’s Report to reflect on another successful year and see what’s ahead.

2025 marked yet another successful year of Cummins Christmas Wonderland. The highlight for and many others was the unveiling of our new modern take on our nativity scene.
With the generous sponsorship of the Bendigo Cummins Community Bank the scene came to life with Leanne’s amazing vision. It is quite evident that visitors, particularly our little ones, love the interactive displays.
Financially we are in a very good position, which has allowed us the opportunity to update some large pieces, as well as adding some. We continue to receive donations of all sorts from various avenues which are always gratefully received.
We have had a couple of working bees at the shed earlier this year with the aim of decluttering; thanks to those that have reorganised boxes and sort through items. It can be an overwhelming job at times.
Thank you to the Fuss family and our local community bank for their monetary donations. I would personally like to thank the committee, Leanne as Secretary, Barb and Barry as Treasurer and the go-to man, Grace for your enthusiasm, organising, vision, and creativeness; Sandy, Jacinta, Ungarra CWA, Gayle, Josie Hall for her Santa’s workshop, Wendy and her band of helpers; volunteers for all their hands on help and many more including businesses that have helped us in any way. Thank you to anyone else that I may have missed.
And finally I would like to thank every visitor that made the effort to come and enjoy our Wonderland display. Every year it amazes me at how far they travel. There are so many benefits for our town and surrounding community.
Looking forward to our 2026 display. Bring it on.

Cheers from your President,
Ingrid Kennerley

The elves will be busy in the next 4 months bringing this year’s display together. Once again the display will open on December 1st until December 28th, from 10am to 5pm at the Cummins Community Hall.

We’re always welcoming new members, so if you’d like to help bring the magic of Christmas to our community, email us at cdec@lec.sa.gov.au to find out more.

It is with much excitement and anticipation that the Wonderland Committee announce that this year’ s Wonderland WILL GO AHEAD.

Very careful consideration was given to our COVID plan, and it was decided that it could be managed.

Normal restrictions will need to be observed, being having 100 maximum visitors in the institute, hand sanitiser and 1.5 m distancing. We will also use COVID marshals and contact tracing sheets, and surfaces will be wiped over regularly by volunteers. As every one is looking forward to visiting the Wonderland we know that visitors will comply with these rules.

To have some level of crowd control the committee has decided to use an easy online booking system (See instructions on the picture.) This will ensure that visitors will have the surety of admission at their preferred time, on their preferred day, and avoid the possibility of having to wait if the hall has reached capacity.

Allotted visit times will be one hour.

Opening date will again be on Dec 1st but closing date has been changed to 28th Dec. Christmas Day open from 2 to 5 pm.

Santa will attend from Sat 12th to Thurs 24th Dec from 10am to 12 noon.

Large groups, schools and organisations must book online.

Entry is a very much appreciated gold coin donation. This is our only form of income to enable us to offer you this unique Christmas experience.

Click here to book.

Looking forward to seeing you all!

The impact of COVID-19 has, unfortunately, reached our town; however, during these trying times it is important to remain calm, and remind yourself of our community’s can-do attitude. This is why we’ve compiled a list of how some of the local businesses are adapting to the current situation and how they can help you, whether you’re in isolation or not.

To help everyone keep a safe social distance, the Cummins Hotel has created pick-up zones, where patrons can safely get their meals and beverages without even leaving their cars. The bottleshop drive-thru is also open, so no need to panic about missing out on your favourite drinks.

Five Loaves Bakery is also offering a pick-up service or, if you’re in isolation in town, a delivery service to your front verandah is also available.

If you’re running low on groceries, don’t panic! Cummins IGA is making sure all locals are well looked after and it’s working hard to ensure shelves are continuously restocked, just remember to sanitise your hands as you walk in, and follow their safety practices.

Cummins Meat Store is also working hard to guarantee our town’s meat supply is steady, and we cannot be thankful enough!

If you’re a farmer currently under isolation and need some stockfeed, or if you’re just an avid baker who’s run out of supplies and can’t get to the store, just give Cummins Milling a ring, and they can help out and even deliver.

If you need farm supplies such as chemicals, call Landmark, Elders or Crop Smart, who will supply what you need, all the while following the appropriate safety procedures. For all your other agriculture needs, check out Lincoln Rural, who are also open to the farmers and community, and are providing a drive-thru service for your convenience.

Thinking about catching up on your reading? Not a problem, just call the Cummins School Community Library, or place books on hold online, and they will arrange a pick-up time at a designated collection point.

Of course, these are just a few examples of how we’re all, as a community, trying to stop the rapid spread of the virus, so remember to wash your hands, keep a safe distance from others, if possible stay home, and if you’re showing symptoms or been in contact with an infected person, contact Lower Eyre Family Practice for further advice.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and to help you plan a surprise for that special person in your life, we’ve compiled a list of everything you can find in Cummins to make her day extra special:

Spoil her with beauty!

Make the joy of Mother’s Day last with a flower bouquet. Visit Cummins Thrifty Link Hardware and you will find gorgeous blooms just for her. If you happen to have forgotten, don’t panic, Cummins IGA is open on Sundays, and they too offer a fantastic flower selection.

Start the celebrations early!

Who says you can’t surprise her in advance? Just call in to Five Loaves Bakery on May 9^th, and spoil her with a mini high-tea. It includes tea, coffee, and a selection of sweet and savoury treats, and for a little extra they can also add a glass of bubbles, a great way to jazz up your afternoon! Bookings are essential, so check out their Facebook page to make a reservation.

Make her look and feel amazing!

Pop in to the Cummins Pharmacy and you will find an outstanding range of giftware for that special woman in your life, from perfumes to jewellery to bags and everything else to make her feel amazing, inside and out.

Glamour Me Pink, Platinum Hair FX, and Dina Randall’s Shades of Nails are also offering vouchers for Mother’s Day, so there’s no excuse for you not to make her feel loved.

Nourish her!

On May 10th, Korinya Farm Gate will be hosting a Nourishing Cooking Skills Workshop, a perfect way to spend time with mum. Pick up seasonal herbs and veggies straight out of Korinya’s garden, and learn how to prepare a variety of nutrient dense foods. The best part? You get to take home your prepared meals.

Surprise her with breakfast!

Take her for a drive on Sunday morning, and make sure to stop by the Cummins Hotel, where a Mother’s Day Brunch will take place from 9:30am. Indulge in some delicious options, and don’t worry about the dishes, win-win for everyone.

Bonus: Celebrations don’t just stop there!

On May 14^th, the Mothers Encouragement Group (M.E.G) will also be hosting a Mother’s Day High Tea, so bring your grandma or significant lady in your life, and celebrate with other mums. You can read more about this group here, or you can RSVP here.

Make those special people feel loved this Mother’s Day right here in Cummins, South Australia, and don’t forget to share your Mother’s Day adventures with us using #explorecummins.

A pinch and a punch, it’s the first of the month! And that means a new issue of the Cummins Connection!

The Cummins OP Shop well-deservedly took the cover spot this time, which is no wonder, as we’ve heard from recent visitors that it is “the best Op Shop in the EP.” They’re always looking for donations and new members, so if you were thinking about joining this fantastic committee, now is the time, and you will find the membership form inside the Connection.

You will also find a myriad of local events and other community notices, so if you’d like to read about everything that’s happening in Cummins this month, you can download the Cummins Connection here.

May you have a great reading!

It’s almost the weekend and it’s a busy one in the Lower EP with amazingly good vibes all around!

Start your Friday by visiting the neighbouring Tumby Bay, only 41kms away, as the coastal town will be hosting their annual Colour Tumby Street Art Festival, which spans across the weekend. Watch art come to life right before your eyes with live painting all day every day, plus foreshore movies, adult silent disco, and a myriad of events for children and adults alike. To see the whole program, check out Colour Tumby Street Art on Facebook.

In the afternoon, treat yourself to some pampering at Platinum Hair FX in Cummins, as the brand-new business will be hosting opening celebrations starting at 4pm. Get to know all their services while relaxing with drinks and nibbles, and don’t miss your chance to win gift packs and vouchers with their free raffle! For more info click here.

On Saturday, pick your tunes and rock your socks off! Enjoy live music all around with Tumby Bay having Melbourne band Kingswood playing at the Soldiers Memorial Hall; while the Cummins Hotel will be singing along to the sounds of Tim Richards, on what would be his 6^th SA show for his current Australian Tour.

Finally, on Sunday, grab a bargain! Come to the Cummins Showgrounds and see what treasures you can find at The Big Clearing and Sundry Auction. The local nurses will also be there cooking up a storm so you don’t run out of energy while bidding, and all funds from the day will be donated towards local health services.

So, whether you want to explore art, beauty, music, or great finds, the choice is yours, and it can all start right here in Cummins, so base yourself in our town and don’t forget to share your adventures with us using #explorecummins .

Enjoy!

The Cummins Community Hall Committee would like to congratulate all those who entered the Saucy Saturday competition, and special gratitude goes to the sponsors who donated to this fundraising event for the Cummins Community Hall: The Cummins District Community Bank branch of Bendigo Bank, Cummins Op Shop, Cummins Community Hotel and Cummins IGA.

Massive THANK YOU to Mighty Red Sponsors  5 Loaves Bakery – Michael and Katie Agnew – and TJ & SK Guppy Painters – Trevor and Sandy Guppy – whose generous sponsorship allowed the Cummins Hall committee to book internationally renowned presenter and author, Rebecca Sullivan, to conduct workshops at the event on  30th March 2019.

The following are the winners of the Saucy Saturday Homemade sauce competition:

Section 1: Traditional Tomato Sauce

Winner:  Kym Firth

Runner-Up: Anika Swaffer

Prizes Donated by Sandy Jones & Danielle’s Hairdressing

Section 2 : All Your Own

Winner: Susan Modra

Runner-Up: Toni Haddow

Prizes donated by Cummins Hotel & Wendy Holman

Section 3:  Tomato Relish

Winner: Lea Jericho

Runner –Up: Tarren Minhard

Prizes from Cummins Thrifty Link Hardware   & Cummins Post Office

Section 4: Chilli Sauce

Winner: Michael Lee

Runner-Up: Rebecca Anderson

Prizes donated by Cummins Hotel and Shearing Quarters

Section 5: Saucy Savoury

Winner: Adriana Salas

Runner- up: Tarren Minhard

Prizes from Cummins Pharmacy & Wendy Holman

Section 6: Students Sauce

Winner: Buddy Class Cummins Area School

Runner-up:  Josie Hall’s class

Prizes donated by 5 Loaves Bakery &  Cummins Newsagency

Section 7 : People’s Choice

Winner: Lea Jericho

Runner-Up:  Michael Lee

Prizes donated by Cummins Community Hotel &  Leanne’s Kitchen

Best Label

Winner: Lea Jericho

Runner-up:  Buddy Class CAS

Prizes provided by Cummins Mill & Wendy Holman

Last but not least, appreciation also goes to stall holders and presenters for the day: Rahel Gerber (Thermomix),  Mary-Anne and Scott Mickan (Korinya Farm Gate), Sandy Jones, 5 Loaves Bakery, Cummins Men’s Shed, Bernie Paige (Bomanna), Cummins Thrifty Link Hardware, Cummins Mill, Grace Coombs, and Cummins Op Shop.  And thanks to the taste buds of the judges Dr Quigley, Meg Shirley and Robyn Modra; and those willing ladies for Granny Secrets panel, Cynthia Mahoney, Gladys Hall, Sharon Lee, Sandy Jones, Carolyn Martin, and Coral Langley.