Australiana Pioneer Village - Opening Day - Jan 26

Well, our BIG day finally came - Australia Day and the GRAND reopening - after so many trials and tribulations, fits and fights, ins and outs - the day had finally come. After lots of working bees, regular and irregular, we were OPEN AGAIN!! Advertising had been handed out, and the word was out. Now was the big test - how many people would come. And here are some of the photos that I took that day.
(Left - the gate attendees are ready for the first arrivals)

(Right - Grant Denyer of Channel 7 was there for the weather forecasts - his quip "What was the name of the Swagman in Waltzing Matilda?? Andy sang as he watched and waited !!)

I should add that the temperature was over 40C, and most of the volunteers were wilting by day's end. But it was all worth it. It seems that we had over 5000 people came through. So we are under way again.
(Left - the crowds have started - even before the 9am official opening)
(Right - down in the Damper Camp the girls were waiting - scones and dampers in hand)

(Left - behind the main street, the antique machines putted and chuffed away)

(Right - crowds and horses in main street)



(Left - people wandered up and down)



(Right - the horse and sulky rides were popular - not sure if the horse enjoyed walking the same path time and again on such a hot day!!)




(Left - there was something of interest for everyone - from old cars to trucks and tractors)
(Right - and lots of nostalgia)


(Left - we were entertained in the old fashioned way - pre TV, I-pods, etc - with good old fashioned toe tapping music)

(Right - crowds lined to get into the sheep shearing - you'd think they haven't seen such before!)


(Left - across the park, people enjoyed picnics)



(Right - the mounted troopers paraded around)



(Left - Main Street again)


(Right - the smithy showed how to lose weight!! without Jenny Craig!!)




(Left - the working horses navigate the people)




(Right - The HUM CHOIR entertained)




(Left - Uncle Wes, of the Bidgigal people introduced the Smoking Ceremony for the
Welcome to Country)

(Right - The Reopening was declared by one of the Hawkesbury Councillers)








(Above left - Afternoon and the TV celebrities have no rest - Channel 2 interview our revered President)

(Right Above - with mid-afternoon, the crowds start to decrease)




(Above Left - the children played with watermelon rolling)

(Above Right - they also tried out the gumboot throwing - much to the danger of watchers!!)


And so that was our Opening Day - great and tiring - but very satisfying!!