Chairman’s Message
This year, the Rotary Club of Eltham of which I am a member will be running its 10th Festival……well 9th really since last year’s Festival was cancelled at the eleventh hour due to the most appalling weather conditions.
The committee had planned to make a few changes to the layout and to extend both the Arts and Sustainability precincts last year. Those changes will be incorporated this year.
We also decided not to run the Eltham Idol competition last year since Tony Wason, a Past President of the Rotary Club of Eltham, the instigator of the competition in 2004 and the organiser in the ensuing years was battling illness and it was considered inappropriate to run it in his absence.
Sadly, Tony passed away just before last year’s Festival and he will be sorely missed.
However, Idol is back this year.
Planned by Gina Collins with assistance from Melanie Wason, the youngest daughter of Tony, I am confident that it will serve as apt reminder of Tony and, to further ensure that it does, perpetual trophies in Tony’s name will be presented to the winner of each category.
The committee kept in mind the Festival objectives that the Rotary Club of Eltham set which are detailed in the Introduction to the website and I am confident that you will all agree that each one will have been met.
However, in an attempt to gather your opinions, we have developed a small survey form and a few of us will be randomly asking visitors to answer a few questions. If you are approached, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us.
The Rotary Club will have a marquee down by the pond and I would invite you to drop by to pass the time of day and let us know how your day is going.
Without the stallholders, community groups, entertainers and commercial exhibitors, there would be no Festival. They have all supported the Festival over the last ten years and our club is proud of its association with all of them.
You will see the sponsors’ logos on the website, on the marketing collateral and at various points within the festival site. Without the financial support of our sponsors, the event would not be possible at all and so I would ask you all to consider supporting them as they have each supported us.
In particular, I would ask you all to make a point of visiting the exhibit of the Shire of Nillumbik who is not only our Festival’s most generous sponsor but also is the provider of help and support through the planning stage. The Shire’s staff on hand would love to see you.
Finally, I would like to thank you all for your continuous support over the last 10 years and look forward to seeing you in November.
Have fun!
Yours in Rotary Service,
David Flint
Rotary Eltham Town Festival Committee Chairman
