Lots to celebrate at milestone event
Amilestone event. A picturesque lake. A busy town. Edenhope is ready to celebrate 100 years of Henley on Lake Wallace this weekend.
Event committee president Hugh Caldow said preparations were ramping up for one of the biggest events in Edenhope for the year.
“Everyone is pretty keen. We haven’t had Henley since 2020, so this is our first chance to celebrate 100 years of the event,” he said.
“The first event was 1921, but there were some missed in the 1930s and 1940s, so while it’s not the 100th event, we are celebrating 100 years since the first event.
“This year we are focussing on getting more floats in the street procession and hope it will be the biggest crowd we have ever seen.”
Mr Caldow said the event was a chance for many people to ‘catch up’.
“A lot of people haven’t been back to Edenhope in years, so there are lots of reunions organised and people have been booking out the motels and caravan park,” he said.
“We have an elderly community so plenty of residents’ children and grandchildren come home for the weekend, too.
“It puts a lot back into the town – the main street will be busy and it’s the pub’s biggest day of the year.”
This week the Red Tail Gallery in Edenhope has featured an exhibition of Henley’s past with photos, memorabilia and footage that will also be displayed at Henley Park on Saturday.
The street procession starts about 12.30pm, which kicks-off a day of celebrations, while children’s entertainers the Mik Maks will perform during the afternoon.
The iconic Ullswater Dragon will make an appearance in the street procession about 70 years since the first time it ‘walked’ the main street.
Glenn Dixon, of Ullswater, is helping dragon custodian Ken Dixon restore the dragon to its former glory.
“The original creators of the dragon built it in the 1950s from lightweight steel that was covered in parachutes from World War II,” Mr Dixon said.
“It has a bending head and a tongue that comes out. It’s been to nearly every Henley since. It used to be carried before it was put on wheels and now sits perfectly on a little tractor that gets it along in the procession.
“It’s amazing and elaborate engineering by a group of farmers and bush mechanics.”
Mr Dixon said it was an icon that everyone kept an eye out for each year.
“It has had some bingles throughout the years and has changed colours from green and white, to red and white and it is now khaki and beige,” he said.
“It’s a bit like the Ozenkadnook Tiger, the Ullswater Dragon is etched in folklore, but is a bit of a legend.”
Another staple feature of the event is the Australian Women’s Rolling Pin Championships.
This year there will be a special event in addition to the traditional competition. Past winners have been invited back to Edenhope, with a golden ticket for a chance to compete against all other past winners.
Wendy Dubois is the only competitor heading into the champion of champions rolling pin competition with two golden tickets. She won the competition in 1985 and 2019. “It’s a fun day with friends and if the rolling pin goes through the target, it goes through; if it doesn’t then that’s OK, too,” she said.
“I think they’re hoping for 1000 people or more in town for the day.
“It’s going to be great weather, so hopefully everyone gets behind it and goes down there.”
Mr Caldow said it was good to be able to host Henley on Lake Wallace again.
“It’s my favourite day of the year,” he said.