By Callum Ludwig
Fresh off the back of the successful Step into the Past event, preparation is already underway for the Upper Yarra Historical Society’s annual Crank Up Heritage and Community Festival.
Held each year in either March or April, this year’s Crank Up will take place at the Upper Yarra Museum on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 April.
Upper Yarra Historical Society president Lee Pannett the more interest they can generate, the better off local history is and history as a whole will be.
“History is a learning experience there for everyone, so I think with that in mind, a couple of events and especially with the Steps into the Past being such a successful event, hopefully, that puts us in the forefront of most people’s minds and we get a few extra people down to Crank Up for the weekend,” he said.
“If you enjoy going out to weekend events and want to see something different to the normal market or show, come along and have a look around and see what’s on offer.”
The Crank Up event has run in Yarra Junction for over 40 years, including displays of vintage machinery (both moving and stationery), live blacksmithing, old-fashioned heritage trades and skills as well as live music and activities.
There will be a vintage car show on Saturday and a wood chop competition that always excites spectators on Sunday.
A lot of the machinery and displays are inspired by the history of the Upper Yarra, particularly the importance of the timber industry in the growth of the region and the historic railway line.
Mr Pannett said without the timber industry in the Upper Yarra, the Yarra Valley wouldn’t be what it is today.
“It’s very important that we celebrate the history of the native timber industry, especially with the slow demise of the industry and the event that it will probably totally shut down over the next couple of years, so the woodchop and those sorts of events will become more important,” he said.
“The wood chop is very popular, Australia-wide and of course, a vintage-style sport like that just sparks people’s interest, people enjoy coming back and watching people work hard to win the competition.”
Crank Up is the biggest fundraising event for the Upper Yarra Historical Society and the museum for the year, with tickets for adults costing $15, tickets for concessions at $10 and kids allowed to enter for free.
