Homestead raises a storm

By Melissa Donchi
MONT de Lancey celebrated the French national holiday on the weekend alongside its monthly farmers market.
Bastille Day, which was on Saturday, 14 July, is one of the biggest events for the historic homestead which trades on its French authenticity.
The day included a re-enactment by the 21st EME regiment, which symbolised the storming of the Bastille in France in 1789.
Rachel Roads travelled from the city to participate in the re-enactment and even brought her five-year-old son.
“We’re part of a re-enactment group called the 95th Rifles,” Ms Roads said, “so we’ve been to a few of these events already.”
Marketing coordinator Chris Helleren said it had been the most successful market yet.
“The turnout was fantastic, it was easily the most well attended market this year,” Ms Helleren said.
“We usually close the market at one in the afternoon but there were still people walking around much later than that,” Ms Helleren said.
Events at Mont de Lancey have been very successful and there are already plans for more in the future.
Ms Helleren will head to France in September to explore more options for Bastille Day next year but it is expected to feature the Battle of Somme where Australian soldiers fought in WWI.
“Wandin is, basically, a French settlement and so to combine our history and celebrate both cultures is just fantastic,” Ms Helleren said.
“We have a world class tourism asset in the Yarra Valley and I think everyone is just starting to realise its potential.”