The Act Belong Commit Festival of Busselton will celebrate its 55th Anniversary in 2019 and to mark the occasion a History Exhibition will be held for the first time.
The inaugural exhibition will run from late December through to the end of January and be open to the public for free viewing daily.
Exhibition coordinator Tracy Johnston said the exhibition would take visitors on a journey through the festival’s history, from its first days on the Vasse River in 1964 through to its current format and location in the heart of Busselton’s CBD and foreshore.
The new event, has been designed in partnership with Creative Spaces, one of WA’s leading exhibition design studios.
Creative Spaces director Rikki Clarke said she was excited to be supporting the 2019 Act Belong Commit Festival of Busselton with its first ever History Exhibition.
“As a child I spent many years in Busselton and have the most wonderful memories of the many and varied events we attended,” she said.
“It was one of those childhood memories you always look back on with a smile and to now be able to share my skills and resources with the Festival is such an honour.
“We look forward to taking children and adults alike on this colourful historical journey.”
Ms Clarke said the exhibition was a testament to the festival committee’s ability to continue to evolve and remain relevant to such a diverse audience.
“We have worked hard to design an exhibition that will be visually rich and full of colour, whilst offering fascinating insights to the festival’s past and also paying tribute to the many individuals and businesses in the South West that have been part of this magical train ride of an experience,” she said.
A key highlight of the exhibition will be a fun-filled three-dimensional photo opportunity, where visitors can don a cloak, sash and crown, and picture themselves as one of the event’s original Festival Queens.
To complete the exhibition’s interpretative display, the festival is now asking residents and businesses who may have original photographs of key people or events taken during the festival’s 54 years, to get in touch as soon as possible.
Ms Johnston said they were especially keen to hear from anyone who might have an intact copy of the festival’s 1971, 1994, or 1997 event programs.
“At present, Busselton Library has a copy of every edition, bar these three, so to have these missing few and to complete our first History Exhibition, would mean the world to the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the years to keep the Festival of Busselton alive and much-loved,” she said.
Those able to assist are encouraged to contact Tracy Johnston on 0437 417 177 or to email her at hello@brandmason.com.au.
Further information regarding Act Belong Commit Festival of Busselton’s History Exhibition will soon be published online at www.festivalofbusselton.com.au/events.