FAMILIES turned out to celebrate Merredin’s heritage and Mother’s Day at the inaugural Destination Merredin festival over the May 10 and 11 weekend.
On Saturday local residents demonstrated their skills at spinning wool, beeswax candlestick making, quilting and sausage making.
Men’s Shed members demonstrated various hand tools used for working wood outside the visitor centre, accompanied by live music and a bouncy castle to keep young children amused.
Ladies at the Country Women’s Association demonstrated cake decorating, Desiree Munro at Cummins Theatre said a number of people called in to have old-time photographs taken and play the piano in the foyer and manager, Rob Endersbee, said he was surprised at how busy they were at Merredin Military Museum which held an open day, along with the Railway Museum, and provided World War II Jeep tours of Merredin.
There were also bus tours, old photographs displayed in Barrack Street shop windows, Mick Hayden and his son Michael hosted cultural tours around and over Merredin Peak and the Clydesdales from Claylee Heavy Horses stud made a popular appearance both days.
On the Sunday hundreds turned out for the Mother’s Day picnic in Roy Little Park with a colourful festive atmosphere and, in the case of the Anderson family, four generations celebrating.
Kirsty Mackenzie picked daisies from her garden and with her three young children handed out posies of daisies to mothers at the picnic.
The day started with an open-air church service which concluded with the release of white doves, there were market stalls, some classic cars on display and fun games like a three-legged-race, scavenger hunt, tug-of-war and croquet.
Shire deputy chief executive officer Rebecca McCall thanked the community who supported the event and the council staff who organised it.
“We appreciate the community’s support and participation,” Mrs McCall said.
“I’d particularly like to thanks Marilyn Sayers, Sheree Lowe, Wendy Porter, Karinna Macdonald, Robyn McCarthy, Desiree Munro and her husband Liam Mincheton, Rodney Robartson and everyone else who helped make it a success.
“Overall the feedback has been positive.”
