Canberrans invited to explore sports, celebrate wellbeing and connect with community at Vikings Sunday Funday

Vikings is proud to announce the return of Sunday Funday, a free community event celebrating physical activity, wellbeing and community connection, to be held on Sunday, 2 November 2025 at Viking Park, Erindale. This much-loved annual event brings together Vikings’ affiliated sporting clubs, community partners, and Canberrans for a day of fun, fitness, and family-friendly entertainment.

“Sunday Funday is a celebration of community spirit. For more than 40 years, Vikings has been part of the Tuggeranong community, where people come together to connect and feel supported. We support around 50 sporting clubs with more than 8,000 athletes and reinvest over $2 million each year into programs that strengthen our community,” says Vikings Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Hill.

“The ACT Government has launched an Independent Inquiry into the Future of the Clubs Industry, a process that will determine how clubs remain viable and community-focused in the decades ahead. Clubs contribute to and support the community at a scale unmatched by any other community organisation. Funds generated by clubs are reinvested directly into local programs, facilities and initiatives that make a real difference, not distributed to shareholders or external investors. As the industry evolves, a sustainable future will require diversification,” Anthony continues.

“The ACT Government has an important role to play in supporting clubs to transition away from a reliance on gaming revenue while still enabling us to fund grassroots sport, scholarships, and wellbeing programs. For this transition to be successful and ensure community support continues while new, sustainable revenue streams are developed, it must be guided by strong public policy, collaboration, and investment. 

“Without this support, there is a real risk that community funding, sporting sponsorships, and local partnerships could decline, not due to lack of will, but due to the absence of a sustainable structure. Sunday Funday is just one way we support the grassroots sporting community, and it gets bigger and better every year. Over 30 affiliated sports clubs will be here on the day, inviting the young and young at heart to try their hand at something new. From rugby, tennis and netball, to gymnastics, judo and lawn bowls, there’s something for everyone at Sunday Funday. It really is a day where sport, wellbeing and local connection come together. We’re excited to welcome families, athletes, and volunteers back to Viking Park for what promises to be our biggest and best Sunday Funday yet.”

For the first time, this year’s event will feature ‘Community Alley’, a new dedicated space for not-for-profit organisations that enhance the wellbeing of Canberrans. “Community Alley will showcase local initiatives focused on health, inclusion, and community development,” Anthony continued. 

Last year’s Sunday Funday drew more than 2,000 attendees, and 2025 is shaping up to be even larger. “Visitors can expect sports demonstrations, interactive games, live entertainment, prizes up for grabs, and plenty of opportunities to get active and connect with others. We’ll have a jumping castle, a visit from Brumby Jack, and entertainment from Tuggeranong Valley Band. We encourage all Canberrans to come along.”

EVENT DETAILS

  • What: Sunday Funday – Vikings Group Community Event

  • When: Sunday 2 November 2025, 10am – 2pm

  • Where: Viking Park, 4 Amsinck Street, Wanniassa ACT

  • Admission: Free

 
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MEDIA BACKGROUNDER

Sunday Funday:

Vikings:

  • The Vikings Group serves over 47,000 members across four ACT club locations, supporting 50 affiliated clubs and around 8,500 athletes of all ages in southern Canberra.

  • Since its inception in 1979, Vikings has proudly returned over $41 million to the local community through support of grassroots sport and community organisations and groups.

  • Through its venues and programs, Vikings continues to promote recreation, inclusion, and wellbeing — fostering a stronger, healthier Canberra.

  • For more information on Vikings, visit: https://www.vikings.com.au/

Inquiry into the Future of the ACT Clubs Industry:

  • The ACT Government has launched an Independent Inquiry into the Future of the Clubs Industry, a process that will determine how clubs remain viable and community-focused in the decades ahead.

  • This Inquiry represents a defining moment for the industry and will influence how the ACT Government partners with clubs like Vikings to ensure we can continue to deliver significant social and community benefits, even as the sector transitions away from its reliance on gaming revenue.

  • As community expectations and industry realities evolve, a sustainable future will require diversification. The ACT Government has an important role to play in supporting clubs through this transition, ensuring that community support continues while clubs develop alternative, sustainable revenue streams. For this transition to be successful, it must be guided by strong public policy, collaboration, and investment.

  • The Inquiry presents an opportunity for the ACT Government to work with clubs to create a realistic pathway toward new, sustainable income streams, ensure community funding levels are maintained even as gaming revenues decline, recognise and preserve the social infrastructure that clubs provide, and encourage innovation and diversification that allow clubs to reinvest in hospitality, sport, and recreation ventures that retain value within the local community.

  • Without this support, there is a real risk that community funding, sporting sponsorships, and local partnerships could decline, not due to lack of will, but due to the absence of a sustainable structure. The Vikings model demonstrates what is possible when responsibility and reinvestment go hand in hand.

  • The ACT Government is seeking feedback on the impact clubs have on the community via a survey. The survey closes on Sunday 9 November 2025. Access the survey here: https://thinkplace.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5vuXOfgQyfldv6e

 

MEDIA CONTACT

For an interview with CEO, Anthony Hill, contact:

Kate Mason
Marketing and Community Engagement Manager, Vikings
Phone: 02 6209 5508 or 0419 843 300
Email: kate.mason@vikings.com.au

VG