fetes, thankyous and music aplenty

Yesterday saw Belgrave South Primary School run its annual Staxafun Fete, the school was packed to the rafters with locals enjoying the plethora of activities on offer. One of my personal favourites is rummaging through the trash and treasure, whilst my son was very happy to check out the lucky jars, show bags and pre-loved toys. It’s a great community event, well supported by local community organisations and the kid’s karaoke provided an entertaining backdrop to the day’s festivities.

School fetes are not only a mechanism to provide fundraising for schools, they provide an important opportunity for the broader community to come together and have fun and celebrate the good things about being a close knit local community.

From Staxafun to the Shire’s Thank You to our Environmental Volunteers.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges held a Thank You function in Olinda to recognise the outstanding efforts of our Friends Of and Landcare groups. Around 70 people from environmental volunteer groups around the region came together to celebrate their achievements.

Our environmental volunteers do an amazing job, whether it be weeding, removing rubbish, revegetating or raising awareness, their efforts are magnificent. Our environment would be far worse off if it were not for the endless passion and support we receive from our environmental volunteers.

Me with Vicki Boyle, madly passionate local environmentalist. Vicki can often been seen with her faithful black Labrador weeding endlessly near the Trestle Bridge in Selby.

From ThankYous to Oxfam’s World Music.
Oxfam held its World Music Café as part of The Basin Music Festival to promote it’s new campaign Sisters on the Planet - Women tackling climate change. The campaign highlights that climate change affects women the most, particularly those living in developing countries. But these women are fighting back, often leading the response to the climate crisis in their communities.

One of the Indian dancers performing for the Oxfam event.

The Oxfam Dandenong Ranges branch organised a terrific line up of entertainment including music and dance from India, The Kaaren Singers from Burma and Vox Congo, rhythms of Africa. It was great to experience such diversity of culture under one roof and the Hindu food provided by The Basin Hindu Temple caterers was delicious.

Judy Wolff, Dandenong Ranges Oxfam member and one of the organisers of the World Music Cafe.

From world music to local music
I finished off yesterday by going to see Claptonesque perform at Burrinja. What a thriving local community arts venue. With a wedding downstairs and a live performance upstairs the joint was jumping. The fight to save Burrinja has been long and sometimes arduous, but with VCAT giving the go ahead in December last year, its all systems go to build an outstanding performing arts centre for our local community with finishing touches now being put on the detailed design plan for the centre.

Dave McFarlane, lead guitarist and passionate Eric Clapton aficionado, performing at Burrinja.