STUART Town is a small town making big things happen.
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The Stuart Town Advancement Association held its annual Man From Ironbark Festival on Saturday with money raised to go to beautifying and improving the town for its 487 residents.
With money raised, the committee plan to refurbish a burnt down garage to turn it into a visitors information centre as well as fix up timber bridge railings.
Previously the association had been able to purchase benches, basketball rings and fix up park fences.
President Ben Penhall said he could not be happier with the turn out for this year’s event.
“We’ve had a lot of projects that don’t get going that quickly... the association is actively achieving a lot of goals,” he said.
Mr Penhall said the festival and the committee was about people making things happen.
There were about 80 market stalls lining the main street on Saturday, which was almost double from the year before, and Mr Penhall estimated about 3000 people visited the town for the event.
He said he had mentioned in radio interviews that people could stop off on the XPT and he was pleasantly surprised that “about half a dozen “ had decided to do so.
“That’s something we’ve never tried before but we’ll try for that a bit more next year,” he said.
“Compared to last year we had a lot more volunteers and we do have a good band of volunteers and the committee.”
Highlights included a street band of entertainers from Wellington, helicopter rides, Devonshire tea, billy boiling competitions, yabby racing, and amusement rides.
The bush dance held on Saturday night had all but sold out and the only criticism Mr Penhall could make concerned the street parade.
“Easter is a difficult time and there’s events on everywhere... we’ve got to get in early and book a car show or a motorcycle club,” he said.
nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au
