The Benalla Heritage Festival kicked off on a beautiful sunny autumn morning in the Rose City on Wednesday, May 1.
The first day of 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.
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 is much more coming up for the community to get involved with.
Thursday, May 2:
FCJ College will open its archives once again from 10am - 12pm. Entry by donation.
Aviator Andrew McFarlane will host the ‘An airport right under our noses’ talk from 10.30am - 12pm at the BFRG rooms at 9 Church St. Entry by donation.
Swanpool Cinema will screen a special movie from the 1920s from 1pm - 2pm.
Walk and history tour at Moorngag Cemetery from 3pm - 4pm at 2406 Samaria Rd, Moorngag. Free entry.
Tea and talk with the Tatong Heritage Group from 4.30pm - 5pm at Tatong Memorial Hall. Free entry. Donations welcomed.
Friday, May 3:
‘DNA: Turning on Genes’ talk by Emeritus Professor Dr Jim Burnell from 10.30am - 12pm at 9 Church St. $5 entry, all proceeds go to BFRG.
Guided walk and talk along Nunn St by the Benalla Historical Society from 1.30pm - 3pm. Meet at the corner of Nunn and Bridge Sts. Free to take part. Donations welcomed.
Timeless heritage - Yorta Yorta and living culture at Winton Wetlands. At the Mokoan Hub from 3pm - 5pm. Booking required.
Benalla Cemetery sunset tour - Bad, sad and famous with local authors and historians John and Judy Barry from 5.30pm - 7.30pm. Adults $10, pre-booking required.
Saturday, May 4:
Scones craft and stories at Benalla CWA, 117 Bridge St, from 10am - 3pm. Entry by donation.
Introduction to outdoor art appreciation at Winton Wetlands (via Boggy Bridge Rd to Greens Hill Track, from 10am - 1pm. Booking required.
Benalla RSL Museum and Military Memorabilia from 10am - 3pm at 58-62 Nunn St. Entry by donation.
Benalla Airfield History at 1 Hanger Lane, Benalla Airport. Open from 10am - 3pm with a talk from 10am - 11am. Entry by donation. Pre-booking required.
Cemetery walk and talk - Winton’s buried treasures with historian Wendy Webster from 10.30am - 12pm at 28 Wattle Creek Rd, Winton. Free entry.
‘DNA: Turning on Genes’ talk by Emeritus Professor Dr Jim Burnell from 10.30am - 12pm at 9 Church St. $5 entry, all proceeds go to BFRG.
Open House - Marangan Lodge No 64 - Freemasons Benalla. At 28 Benalla St from 11am - 3pm. Entry by donation.
FCJ College will open its archives once again from 1pm - 4pm. Entry by donation.
Artist-to-artist meet-up at the Mokoan Hub and Cafe (Winton Wetlands). This informal viewing and gathering, from 1pm - 3pm, will be followed by a wetlands art, culture and heritage talk from 3pm - 4pm. This will also be the launch of Winton Wetlands Creatives web portal. Booking is required for each event.
Guided walk and talk along Nunn St by the Benalla Historical Society from 1pm - 2.30pm. Meet at the corner of Nunn and Bridge Sts. Free to take part. Donations welcomed.
'Can the community save Benalla’s signal box?'. A talk by Better Benalla Rail President Suzie Pearce from 4pm - 5pm at the Farmers Arms Hotel, 1 Commercial Rd. Free entry.
Benalla Cemetery sunset tour - The good, the bad and the ugly. With local authors and historians John and Judy Barry from 5.30pm - 7.30pm. Adults $10, pre-booking required.
Sunday, May 5:
Open House at the Moira Benalla Club from 10am - 2pm at 1 Benalla St. Free entry.
The ‘1838 and a Benalla Secret’ talk on colonisation and Aboriginal resistance in N orth East Victoria, by Nikki James and Hamish McPherson. From 3pm - 4pm at the Benalla Presbyterian Church, 3 Church St. Entry by donation. Pre=booking required.
To book and pay for events visit www.nationaltrust.org.au/ahf/vic and search for Benalla.