Viking invasion

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
VISITORS flocked to Warburton over the weekend to enjoy the fun and festivities of the Nordic Festival.
The weather had warmed up by Sunday afternoon, perfect for a Viking combat demonstration.
It wasn’t all blood and gore, although several Vikings landed on their behinds as was the realistic nature of their sword fight.
Festival co-ordinator Leila Myllymäki-Hay said the turnout was wonderful and many people had mentioned to her they had never seen Warburton so full of people.
“There must have been thousands of people,” she said.
“It was such a pleasure to see everyone having so much fun.”
Ms Myllymäki-Hay said visitors and locals alike embraced the weekend and seemed to really enjoy experiencing another culture in their own town.
“I had some locals saying they had been to the church service, and how wonderful it was to have a service in four different languages,” she said.
“Others absolutely loved the traditional Scandinavian food at The Grange on Saturday night.”
The Frojel Gotlandica Museum displayed artefacts from as early as the eighth century, including original scissors, axes, and jewellery.
Brendan Crawford, aka Hitch the Hairy-nosed Hippy, brought his hand-painted Scandinavian board games that are similar to Chinese checkers.
Visitors had to cross the Brisbane Bridge to enter an original Viking village on the Yarra River bank, where women cooked over wood fires and knotted ropes, while blacksmiths tinkered away and carved jewellery.
Ms Myllymäki-Hay said the weekend went so well there will definitely be a Nordic Festival next year.
She wanted to thank the people of Warburton, her fellow chamber of commerce members for their support, and volunteers on the day – without whom it wouldn’t have been possible.