By Kath Gannaway
TOOLANGI’S inaugural Toolangi Festival saw the mountain top community spring to life on the weekend.
Coinciding with the centenary of poet C.J. Dennis’s arrival in the tiny timber community in 1908, poetry provided one of the main focal points of the weekend.
The program which included open gardens, an art show, music, a craft market, children’s games and the opportunity to discover the range of food, wines and natural attractions of the district, provided plenty to keep locals and visitors on the go.
Jan Williams was delighted with her first poetry competition and with the response to the bush poets who read the poems of C. J. Dennis over the weekend.
“It went fabulously. A lot of people came on both days of the competition and, hopefully, now that people know about it, we will have far more entries next year.”
Murrindindi councillor Lyn Gunter presented prizes with David Campbell winning the open category and Daniel Terrington taking honours in the junior section.
Karen Brown said the DSE’s Forest Discovery Centre was also well visited and provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work of local artists.
The historic film of C.J. Dennis’s Sentimental Bloke was also a great success.
Michelle Marshall of Toolangi Tavern said everyone was very happy with the event.
“We had nine different performers and bands over the weekend and it was great to present local artists to local audiences and to the people we invited into Toolangi for the festival.”
