Record numbers of construction workers and their families converged on Caulfield Racecourse yesterday for Melbourne's annual building unions picnic.

The decision to shift across town from Moonee Valley proved to be a correct one as more rides could be accommodated and conditions weren’t as crowded.

Families spread themselves out on the grass and soaked up the spring sunshine.

Photo Gallery 1 Photo Gallery 2 (shots by Paul Sulivan)

Old school
Of course picnic day is all about the kids and they had a huge array of amusements and attractions to choose from. There were plenty of prizes on offer in the many raffles, including 15 junior motorbikes thanks to the generosity of sponsors.

Old school picnic activities made a welcome return this year with sprints for kids and three legged races providing exercise and laughs. In the afternoon the inaugural Cummo Cup was run around the 1400m inside track of the racecourse. 1st and 2nd places were taken out by brothers Hamish and Matt Millar, 16 and 15 years old.

The cup is of course named in memory of John Cummins, former CFMEU President. No doubt if the great man was looking down from somewhere he would have been rapt to see the tremendous working-class institution that is Picnic Day as strong as ever.

Everyone involved deserves recognition but special mention must go to CFMEU Assistant Secretary John Setka, who has taken responsibility for delivering members a bigger and better picnic, and Terri Strong, finance officer with the union who oversaw the organisation.

Terri even researched and wrote a great article for the union journal about the history of Picnic Day. Read it here.