Jamieson’s time to shine

JAMIESON was the place to be on the weekend, with a full line-up of activities drawing crowds over the three days of the Jamieson Autumn Festival. The event continues to build in momentum after last year’s return to the annual calendar following a four-year hiatus following COVID. Kicking off the festivities on Friday night was live music headlined by renowned musician Lloyd Spiegel, with the sell-out show packing the Jamieson Memorial Hall. Franzi Weiss from the organising committee said the night with a live auction and community-run bar was an amazing start to the festival. “The atmosphere was great with Mansfield father and daughter duo Paul and Ashlyn Riley warming up festival goers as the support act,” said Franzi. “Lloyd Spiegel then took to the stage delivering an incredible set that had the room up and dancing, performing solo and also accompanied by Lisa Baird, Tim Burnham and Snowy.” Hoping for blue skies and beautiful Autumn weather, the weather gods certainly delivered on the Saturday, the crowds out in force as Jamieson closed off its main street to through-traffic with stalls, stages, displays and demonstrations as well as community games and activities all adding to the atmosphere. Welcoming 35 market stalls and 17 food and drink vendors, it was the largest festival to date, with local businesses also reporting a brisk trade. Building on record numbers from the previous year, estimates of between 2500 and 3000 people converged on the tiny township with locals and visitors alike celebrating the start of the school holidays. “Everyone loved the blacksmithing and old world trades,” said Franzi. “And the duck race proved a huge drawcard, with over 300 people spread out along the banks of the Jamieson River to watch the spectacle.” With wind blowing the ducks upstream away from the finish line there was initial concern amongst race officials. “There were lots of laughs and then luckily the wind quietened down and the race was on,” said Franzi. Dotted with picnic blankets many festival visitors set up base by the river basking in the sunshine, dangling their feet in the water and enjoying the great food and drink on offer, with a backdrop of good tunes delivered by local musicians. One of numerous stages showcasing local entertainment, all musicians and performers generously donated their time and talent to make the festival such a stand-out success. “We also couldn’t do it without the many volunteers who worked tirelessly in the build-up and over the weekend to deliver the festival,” said Franzi. “Over 50 volunteers contributed to the weekend from set-up, to pack down and all the stuff in between.” A visible and helpful presence in red, festival volunteers worked alongside other volunteers on the day with members of the local CFA and the Jamieson and District Historical Society contributing to the event. And despite thermometers registering a chilly four degrees on Sunday morning, the cool weather didn’t deter visitors with a group of 30 taking part in the guided significant tree walk. For the first time the festival also included workshops into the weekend calendar, with participants exploring wet and dry felting to craft their own hats, working with air-drying clay to create unique ceramic pieces and taking part in a landscape painting class. “It is amazing how the town comes together and makes an event like this possible,” said Franzi.

Jamieson’s time to shine

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