Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation Society member Leonie Martinson with one of the agricultural artifacts the society will display at Wandin Silvan Field Days this year.By Shaun Inguanzo
WANDIN SILVAN Field Days promises a touch of history along with the cutting edge of horticultural technology, woven together with a community thread.
Held at Wandin East Reserve across the 13 and 14 October, Wandin Silvan Field Days will bear up to 200 exhibitors each showing the latest in horticultural machinery and technology in a region rich with nurseries, vineyards and orchards.
Organiser and Monbulk resident Nan Cleven said the event was a similar setup to the old Royal Melbourne Show.
“It is what the Royal Melbourne Show used to be, but more focused on horticultural people.
“It started 36 years ago to demonstrate new machinery to farmers by taking it direct to their paddocks.
“It has evolved from there.”
Ms Cleven said the farming theme did not limit the event to locals.
She said tourists were guaranteed to find something they could connect with.
“Exhibitions range from gumboots right through to the latest spraying equipment.”
She said local car dealerships would also be present with vehicles on display.
The event will be held indoors and outdoors with inside stalls offering a variety of craft products to view.
And for history buffs, Ms Cleven said there would be displays of old and superceded farming equipment, made available by the Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation Society.
But Ms Cleven said the community was the underlying focus of the event with local schools providing all catering as part of their fundraising activities.
Wandin Silvan Field Days is organised by a committee of 20 volunteers, all farmers, from the Wandin, Seville and Silvan areas.
