When you think about Ekka Strawberry Sundaes, what comes to mind?
Is it the combination of sweet strawberry ice cream, diced delectable berries and cream, the crunch of the crispy cone, the pastel pink, red and white hues, the treasured memories of Ekkas gone by, or the ability to contribute to life-changing medical discoveries?
The Ekka is just around the corner, meaning you won’t have to wait too long to savour a sweet Strawberry Sundae.
You might already be salivating at the thought of these tasty treats, but have you ever wondered what makes them so special?
Along with the limited-edition, locally-produced ice cream which is at the heart of this iconic Ekka sundae – these sweets serve up vital funds for medical research through The Common Good.
In this blog, we share five reasons why Ekka Strawberry Sundaes are so remarkable.
1. The Ekka memories and nostalgia
Is the Ekka Strawberry Sundae the most nostalgic food for Brisbane locals?
The Strawberry Sundae has been a part of the Ekka since the 1950s (supporting The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation for the past 35 years), and a trip to the Strawberry Sundae stall has been an obligatory stop at the show for many Brisbane locals for as long as they can remember.
Countless locals find that the taste of these iconic treats evokes precious memories and transports them back to a happy time with family and friends.
Do you have a favourite treasured Ekka Strawberry Sundae memory? Is indulging in one of these iconic desserts a time-honoured tradition in your family? We’d love to hear more about it. Read more about the memories it revives here or share your own stories with our team via email info@thecommongood.org.au
2. Supporting SEQ producers and businesses
South-East Queensland has some incredible local producers and family-owned food businesses, and this delicious dessert supports several of them.
The limited-edition ice cream uses fresh cream and egg yolks from suppliers on the outskirts of Brisbane, and the sundae is topped with juicy, strawberries sourced directly from north of Brisbane.
The premium ice cream is produced in Brisbane by the family-owned and operated business LICK Ice Cream.
3. One-of-a-kind ice cream made from SECRET recipe
The recipe for the strawberry ice cream is a tightly held secret!
And you won’t taste this exact combination of fruity flavours anywhere else or at any other time of the year – because LICK Ice Cream ONLY produces this limited-edition ice cream flavour to serve at the Ekka.
It takes their team three months to make the amount needed to scoop up Brisbane’s most sought-after sweet during the show.
4. Incredible volunteers
Ekka Strawberry Sundaes might be eaten and made with love, but they’re served with love too.
Our fabulous super scoopers who serve up the sweet treats at the show are volunteers – meaning they give their own time to ensure showgoers can indulge in these iconic desserts. And this generous gesture has even greater impacts as the profits from the sale of the sundaes go towards life-changing medical research (more on this in point 5!)
Many of these people who donate their time to volunteer at the show are connected to the researchers we support or to The Prince Charles Hospital in some way, and volunteering is often a way for them to give back to a cause that’s important to them.
Every year, there are about 1,500 volunteers who join us to scoop up more than 100,000 strawberry sundaes.
5. Medical Research
Last but certainly not least is the important fact that all profits received from the sale of these iconic treats support crucial medical research via The Common Good.
Our researchers are based at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane and conduct globally significant work in the areas of heart disease, lung disease, mental health and dementia.
Last year, some incredible milestones were reached thanks to the generous support of our donors. One of those milestones was the construction and unveiling of two new ICU bedspaces which have been redesigned to optimise healing and recovery while ensuring clinical efficiencies remain at the highest standard.
We are so grateful that The Common Good has been the official charitable organisation for the Ekka Strawberry Sundaes since the late 1980s.
The outcomes delivered by this continued support will help people live healthier for longer now and into the future.
