Pick up and pitch in

By JESSE GRAHAM

IDEAS are turning into actions for Healesville’s 150th celebrations and it is not too late for community members to pick up a project or lend a hand.
The organising committee for Healesville’s 150th anniversary will be running a community workshop meeting at Healesville Senior Citizen’s Hall on Green Street from 7pm on Thursday 3 April.
Community 3777 chairwoman Kath Holton said the evening will provide residents with a catch-up on how the celebration planning was going and give an opportunity for people to collaborate and pick up projects.
“It’s just coming to the time when we need to start ramping up and moving beyond ideas into how we’re going to do it and who is going to do it,” Ms Holton said.
She encouraged all the town’s residents to attend the meeting and help the committee where possible.
Ms Holton said that residents with stories from the town’s past or historical photos and videos could come forward at the meeting and assist in a potential project with the Yarra Ranges Film Society.
The project, which is being run with the help of Healesville 150 committee member Merran Macs, aims to create a film with photos, movies and stories from the town’s past.
Ms Macs said the project was in its early stages, though the committee was attempting to find footage from the national archives and was calling on community members who may be able to help.
Though the aim of the 150th anniversary celebrations is to showcase the town’s growth and past, Ms Holton said that it provides a chance for the community to become closer and determine its future.
“What we want out of this year of celebrations is to strengthen who we are and get to know each other better,” she said.
“It’s not just about the static past, this is about who we want to be.
“This meeting is about moving from talking about it to moving to doing things about it.”
The Healesville 150th community meeting will be held from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday 3 April at Healesville’s Senior Citizens Hall on Green Street.
To book a place at the meeting or make contact with historical materials or stories, email h150@live.com.au or call Merran Macs on 5962 2552.