Sunday 18 April was the day for this year's festival. As usual we worried about the weather, the dignitaries, the volunteers, the wasps, but in the end everything came together and it turned out a perfect weekend. Most of the usual participants turned up. Even the pretend "Bank Robbery" went without a hitch, thanks to the horse-(and donkey) riders and the volunteer bank-tellers defending the Kurth Kiln Bank. The Official Opening of the Festival was performed again by our friend Tammy Lobato MP, Member for Gembrook. The "Gembrook Singers" Group provided a colourful and melodious theme for the ceremony. And a special Thanks to the Hoddles Creek Red Cross Group for doing such a marvelous job, looking after the catering all day.
An Official Book Launch of "Fireside Stories" followed the Opening Ceremony. The small book is a collection of stories from, and about, the Parker family as friends of Kurth Kiln. Its title is a reference to the early days of the Friends Group, sitting around a campfire at meetings and working bee breaks. Complimentary copies of the book were handed out to:
Publication of the book was funded with a grant from the Australian Government 'Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Art' and with members donations. Copies of the book are available from the Gembrook Post Office at $17.50.
The Friends of Kurth Kiln thank all participants of the festival, the dignitaries, the groups, the volunteers, the visitors, for their willingness and the time and effort given to make the 2010 festival a success. This annual Festival (which has won the Cardinia Shire 2004 Festival of the Year Award) is our major contribution to promote greater public awareness of the unique Cultural Heritage of the Kurth Kiln site.
Below are a series of photos taken over the weekend.
