Benalla Heritage Festival, an engaging look at the Rose City’s past

By Simon Ruppert

May 7, 2024

Community history: Members of local history groups came together on May 1 to officially open the Benalla Heritage Festival. Pictured are BFRG president Bill Willett, Meredith Tolliday, Jenny Wapling, Benalla Mayor Danny Claridge, Mary Bridgland, Lyn Tanner and Wendy Webster. Photo by Simon Ruppert

Benalla Heritage Festival kicked off on a beautiful sunny autumn morning in the Rose City on Wednesday, May 1.

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Following the theme of ‘connections’, activities included a morning tea at the Benalla Family Research Group rooms and a talk on the history of the town’s airfield.

FCJ College opened its archives to the community, and a family tree-making workshop was run by BFRG.

Hear ye Hear ye: Town crier Mary Bridgland at the opening of Benalla Heritage Festival. Photo: Meredith Tolliday Photo by Contributed

Sadly, Barry O’Connor's talk about the Arthur Baird Story, the man born in Benalla who helped launch Qantas, had to be cancelled after a positive COVID test.

However, there was much more for attendees to get involved with.

That included Swanpool Cinema screening a special movie from the 1920s, walk and historic cemetery tours, Tea and talk with the Tatong Heritage Group, a ‘DNA: Turning on Genes’ talk by Emeritus Professor Dr Jim Burnell and a guided walk and talk along Nunn St by the Benalla Historical Society.

Insightful: Local teacher Hamish McPherson was joined by Yorta Yorta woman Nicole James giving a talk on Benalla's connection to its Aboriginal past. Photo by Contributed

On Saturday, there was an open house at Marangan Lodge, home of the local Freemasons chapter, and on Sunday the Moira Benalla Club opened its impressive home to the public.

Another highlight on Sunday was a talk organised by the Benalla Aboriginal History Group with introductory speaker Nicole James (a Yorta Yorta woman known to many as the cultural education officer at Winton Wetlands), followed by a talk by local teacher and historian Hamish McPherson.