Putting together 150th show with enthusiasm

PETER Mason and Debbie Hancock are determined the 150th Rheola Charity Carnival will be a success.

Back on Easter Monday for the first time in four years, the organising committee president and secretary were joined by enthusiastic committee members for a meeting on Sunday.

Mr Mason said projects to replace the hall floor and new toilets should be finished in time for the event’s sesquicentennial running.

“We’ve had a good number of volunteers step out and that’s giving us confidence that Easter Monday in Rheola will be a very special time,” Mr Mason said. “We’re still on the lookout for more helpers though. The more we have the better.”

And committee member Julie Piening cannot wait for this year’s event. That night she will be able to start writing the final chapter of a book already at 300 pages charting the charity carnival’s history bringing the community together and raising funds for district hospitals.

“Once we’ve conducted the 150th, it will be to work on the last chapter,” she said.

Historical society president John Davidson, said members were excited to showcase the community and the Serpentine Centenary Air Race to an expected 40,000 patrons from around the world at the show.

An estimated 5000 people www.serpentineairrace.com.au Loddon HERALD FREE EVERY THURSDAY www.loddonherald.com.au Vol AUSTRALIA’S FIRST OFFICIAL AIR RACE SERPENTINE CENTENARY COMMEMORATIVE SOUVENIR flocked to a paddock on the outskirts of Serpentine last March for the centenary of the first official air race in Australia.

Caves could open at Easter

KOOYOORA State Park could re-open by Easter.

Parks Victoria said this week it was prioritising recovery works at Kooyoora State Park following a “severe storm event and expected the park to re-open in April”.

The road to Melville Caves and camp area has been closed since October with barricades blocking access.

“Following a Victorian Government funding commitment, planning to reinstate access to Melville Caves Road is underway,” a Parks Victoria spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Mountt Korong Nature Conservation Reserve picnic area has been re-opened.

“However the Mt Korong Firebreak Track remains closed due to storm damage.”