By JESSE GRAHAM AND KATH GANNAWAY
Town’s milestone marked in style…
OVER a year of planning and discussions culminated over the weekend when the entirety of Healesville gathered for a colossal 150th birthday bash.
When over 800 community members marched down Healesville’s main street on Saturday 8 November, it was obvious that the event had gone off without a hitch.
Groups of all varieties – from pony clubs to schools, environmentalists to forestry workers, young and old – were represented and cheered on by hundreds of residents and visitors that lined the streets.
The parade was the official culmination of the Healesville 150th events that have taken place throughout the year, as well as beginning a day of celebrations, which included a Party in the Park and the Healesville Heritage Festival.
Community 3777 chair and member of the organising committee, Kath Holton, said the aim of the event and the weekend was to bring the community together as one.
“I think we achieved that with bells on,” she said.
Around 20,000 people were expected to be in Healesville on the big day, and from the early hours of the morning through to the end of the weekend, the town was throbbing with people coming out to celebrate.
The parade was led by Wurundejeri and other Aboriginal tribe members, with a hand-made Bunjil the Eagle as the parade’s figurehead, and everyone present cheered and applauded as the groups made their way to Queens Park.
The Party in the Park, organised by Liberty Family Church, began afterwards and featured a range of children’s activities, including a jumping castle, music and face-painting.
Meanwhile, the Heritage Festival hosted steam engines, historic displays from a number of community groups, a wood-chopping competition and live music performed through Saturday and Sunday.
The Heritage Festival and the weekend’s events were kicked off on Friday, when around 15 steam engines took to the road in a special parade from Yarra Glen to Healesville.
Yarra Ranges mayor Fiona McAllister started the parade, and the engines were farewelled by 140 children from Yarra Glen Primary School, who lined the sides of Bell Street for the event.
“What an incredible way to start an incredible celebration,” she said.
“The 150th is a great opportunity for the community to come together, and literally hundreds have been involved in planning the activities.”
Heritage Festival chairman Brett Whelan said the parade broke an Australian record for the most road steam engines travelling between two towns.
Once the parade finished, the last stationmaster for the Healesville railway station, Nick Roe, told stories of his time in the town, before the Healesville Railway Walk was officially opened.
The walk was the brainchild of resident Robyn Johnson, and was organised with the Healesville Chamber of Commerce and the Yarra Ranges Council.
Pavers for the walk were sold throughout the year, and the first two lots have been laid into the path between the railway station and Church Street, though more will be installed in coming months.
A community event was also held on the Saturday at the Healesville Belonging Place, organised by the Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association (HICSA).
Wurundjeri Elder Alan Wandin spoke at the event about the significance of having the Wurundejeri and other Aboriginal tribes lead the Healesville 150th parade.
“That we were asked to lead the parade is recognition and acknowledgement of who you are,” he said.
He said the mutual respect between Indigenous and non-indigenous people was seen in the applause and positivity from community members as the parade came through town with Bunjil the Eagle as the figurehead.
An exhibition, traditional aboriginal dancing and modern hip-hop dancing also took place at the event.
For more photos from the events, turn to pages 8 and 9, and visit mail.starcommunity.com.au.
