Disappointing

I AM writing to voice my disappointment in the lack of community spirit displayed over the weekend and the fact that instead of celebrating our wonderful town’s 150th birthday in unity, the town was torn in two different directions.
During Saturday’s 150th Community Street Parade it was great to see Wurundjeri People and the Taungurung People marching together. They did not lead the parade as different indigenous communities: rather they led the parade as one community.
My family has lived in Healesville for over 100 years and instead of doing what our forefathers would have done and come together, put differences aside, including politics and celebrate as one we had protests, political statements and a distinct division between the Heritage Festival participants in the parade and those organised by the 150th Committee.
Our town’s history is timber and as such they should have played a larger role rather than be separated from the main parade. I have no problems with the environment group marching as all groups should be welcome but to sprout a political message for their campaign is unacceptable for a community celebration.
Furthermore environmentalists protesting and attacking our town’s history during our 150th birthday is outright disgusting.
All political differences should have been put aside and we should have come together in unity but instead the railway held their own Heritage Festival under the guise of the 150th Celebrations.
Meanwhile the 150th Committee seemed to deliberately forget about our town’s true heritage and history which was built on the timber industry and has for generations supported the community. It should not have been about one or the other but about unity and celebrating everything I love about our beautiful town.
I have been on many show/festival committees and know a lot of work was put in by a lot of volunteers and the parade was enjoyed. The schoolchildren, community groups and emergency services that are the grassroots of our community were outstanding and hats off to those that turned up with the community spirit and had people cheering … even though I did miss Healesville’s famous baton twirlers of the past.
For me the weekend was a tale of two towns, which is an absolute shame as it should have been about looking back, coming together and moving forward as one community.
Kersten Gentle,
Healesville.