Opening Date
When reunion officially starts and ends.
Mark your calendars! The Strickland Family Reunion — Melbourne 2027 runs across five wonderful days, from Saturday 16 January to Wednesday 20 January 2027, at the Belgrave Convention Centre in Belgrave Heights, Victoria.
Festivities begin on Saturday 16 January, our opening day. This is when families arrive, register, collect their uniforms (prior arrangement), and receive their free gift, before we come together for the opening-night meal — provided free for everyone — to officially welcome the family and set the tone for the days ahead.
From Sunday through to Tuesday, the reunion is filled with shared meals, cultural celebration, activities, and plenty of time to reconnect across the generations. On-site accommodation covers the nights in between, so the whole family can stay close to the heart of the action.
The reunion draws to a close on Wednesday 20 January, where we gather one last time for the closing meal — also provided free — to share farewells, give thanks, and carry the memories home with us.
Five days, one family, countless memories. We can’t wait to celebrate our Cook Islands heritage together. Please remember to register and complete your bookings by the deadline of 30 November 2026 so we can plan a wonderful event for everyone.
Sunday 17th Jan
Wear your Opening Day Blue Polo.
The Opening Day Polo is part of our reunion uniform, and we’d love everyone to wear theirs on Sunday. As the family comes together for our first full day, seeing everyone in the matching blue polo makes for a wonderful sense of unity — and some great family photos to treasure. Please order a polo for each member of your family when you register, choosing the right size for everyone, and have them ready to wear on Sunday morning. Whether you’re young or young at heart, let’s start the day looking like one big family. Don’t forget to collect yours on opening day
Collection of Uniform
Only with prior arrangement.
Reunion uniforms will not be available on opening day, unless otherwise arranged. When collecting your order, please bring a copy of your purchase confirmation or order receipt. This helps us verify your order and ensure all items are correct at the time of collection. Please have your name and family details on hand so we can find your order quickly, and check your sizes and colours at collection while our team is there to help.
Gift Bags
Free Gifts – by Louisa Puna
As a special thank you for being part of this reunion, every family will receive a free gift — a heartfelt gesture of love and appreciation from Louisa Puna and the organising committees. It’s a small keepsake to mark the occasion, celebrate our Cook Islands heritage, and remember the time we spend together reconnecting as one family. Look out for your gift when you arrive and register on opening day; our team will make sure each family receives theirs. We’re grateful to Louisa Puna and everyone on the committees whose generosity and hard work have made this thoughtful gift possible. Meitaki ma’ata.
On-Site Buggies
Moving around camp ground
Getting around the grounds is easy. Two buggies are provided throughout the reunion to help guests move between the accommodation, dining areas, and activity spaces across the camp. They’re especially handy for our elders, anyone with limited mobility, young families, and carrying gear between areas. Our team will be on hand to give you a lift when you need one, so just flag a buggy or ask at the registration point. The grounds are set among beautiful tall eucalyptus, with pathways connecting the main areas, and the buggies make sure everyone can join in and get where they need to be comfortably.