The ‘Upper Lachlan Shire – Mary Gilmore Society’ is the proud recipients of the new Upper Lachlan Shire Council’s ‘New Events Grant’ which spans over the next two years.
The society will receive $1500 per year and some of this will be spread into the groups which have supported the Mary Gilmore Weekend.
Special thanks to the Crookwell Art gallery, Crookwell Heritage Railway, Laggan Hall Committee and the Wednesday Ladies Quilting Group.
Mary Gilmore Weekend
The upcoming May Gilmore Weekend is a celebration of the life and works of a very important Australian who was born in this shire.
The weekend provides the opportunity to showcase the talents of many residents through music, composing, playing, singing, through poetry, reciting, writing, photography, reading, quilting, wood carving and garden work at Crookwell Railway Station.
Furthermore the weekend provides a cash injection for tourism and commercial businesses in August which is a quiet time of year.
To the visitors who come to enjoy the history and culture of our region, it also promotes our beautiful green shire as a great weekend getaway destination.
Unofficially the Mary Gilmore Weekend also promotes the shire to those visitors looking for a tree change.
Dame Mary Gilmore fervently enjoyed the spirit of being an Australian. She worked tirelessly in many areas to improve the standard of living.
Mary and her colleagues worked in some areas far ahead of the progress of nations much greater than ours, and bought about changes here which were later instigated elsewhere.
She left a huge legacy of the written work she amassed during her exceptionally productive lifetime.
Do come and join us at one or more of the events this weekend.
The Bush Dance being held at The Laggan Hall on Saturday night will be loads of fun, even if you don't dance. We are counting on a last minute rush to fill the hall.
The show times at the local Cafes will have something for everyone to enjoy, even if you don't like poetry.
Finally, organisers aim to give our residents a feel good injection to increase community pride and bonding even more. One of the songs on our CD which will be for sale for $15.00 throughout the weekend, is "Make a Difference in our Town".
It is beautifully sung by local residents Shandara Hill and Keith Robinson. I hope it will become a community singalong song.
The words to the song follow:
Make a Difference
By Trevene Mattox
If we all strive and work together
And using all our strengths combined
We would have the power altogether
To make a difference in our town
Hard times will surely lie ahead
But in numbers we can pull together
And beat the odds along the way
Please give it thought and if you're willing
Come join our happy throng today
We'll succeed through strong determination
And make a difference in our town
We'll give the best that we can give
And in clarity of this good purpose
A leap in faith will get us there
If we all strive and work together
And using all our strengths combined
We would have the power altogether
To make a difference in our town