By Tanya Steele
Community, art, fun and food on were on show for all last weekend, with the Healesville and Yarra Valley community coming together to celebrate what they are about.
Healesville hosted it’s first ‘Connecting Community’ festival at The Memo on Sunday 10 March with an all day event that had just a little bit of everything for everyone.
Organiser Catherine Nolan said it was ‘a wonderful day of bringing people from all walks of life together’.
“From the very old to the very young, sharing stories, weaving, learning about our environment, singing, dancing, sharing food and truly connecting with community,” she said.
The programme included a Poets’ Breakfast, and Tall Tales, Welcome to Country, line dancing, a ukulele concert, kids’ activities and zine making, community stalls, basket weaving, Irish dancing, a stilt walker, Writers & Rhythm original acoustic music, and, Soulsville, a one hour gospel-style concert with choir, band and soloists.
Despite the expected forecasted high temperatures, the curious public were able to peruse the stalls and sit in for the variety of entertainment on offer, greeted in the foyer by Amelia the Magnificent.
The Poet’s Breakfast and Tall Tales kicked off the proceedings – The Tall Tale theme was ‘The Butcher, The Bakers & The Undertaker’ with Eric Duff, Lyn and Neville Johnson and Robbie Heritage sharing their stories with the community.
Badger Creek Primary School students performed music as did the U3A Healesville ukulele group and later Sharni Steel performed a Wayapa demonstration.
Zine making kept hands busy upstairs, blossoming artists and scientists alike could get their face painted, investigate the waterways with HEWI or talk rubbish with the No Reason for Rubbish group.
Healesville Uniting Church put on a free barbeque lunch with free drinks provided by the Healesville SES Unit.
The Healesville CWA later provided a beautiful afternoon tea as the afternoon Writers and Rhythm entertainment commenced.
Ryrie Ward Cr Fiona McAllister attended the event and opened the festival at midday and said it was a wonderful day, with so much laughter.
“The sharing of stories, wonderful music, poetry and just being together as a community. Another special event brought to life by so many and supported by Council through a community recovery committee grant,” she said.
“I hope it becomes an annual event!”
