It really has been a fabulous month for those who like getting out and about, and OK for soccer lovers too. The Manning Valley Winter Festival kept us away from our televisions and helped us experience some great cultural events.

I was starting to wonder if I was ever going to get to see any programs on my great big brand new television. The FIFA World Cup brought many people together in front of their sets, with sales of televisions going through the roof – but not before we had our fair share of festivals and events.

To prove that our region is a leader in the festivals and events arena, a recent study conducted by the University of Wollongong and supported by the Australian Research Council found that Greater Taree area hosted some 55 festivals, the fourth highest behind the Alpine region in Victoria with 60 festivals, Snowy River in NSW with 62 festivals and Ballarat in Victoria topping the events capital list with 73 festivals. That makes us a region of party goers, I would say.

Wingham Beef Week was the first festival off the rank, and of course the highlight of that week is always the Beef Barons Ball, where locals and visitors get dressed up to the nines to compete for the title of Beef Baron and Baroness. The Pride of Erin and the progressive barn dance are both popular, with many old hands showing us how it’s done. Of course, anyone can do it after a few drinks – some not particularly well – but many couples glide across the floor like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, leaving us slightly younger ones for dead.

Another week, another festival and we barely had time to take the beef off the menu when the Scots came to town. It was up with the tartan and on with the kilts for the Bonnie Wingham Scottish Festival, with whiskey drinking, haggis eating, shortbread making and bagpipes, followed by – yes, you guessed it – another ball, and more bagpipes. The rain bucketed down and the parade was almost a washout, except for the fact that the clans were here and they were determined that it would not rain on their parade. The brave women, men, children and horses came out to show us what they were made of, and although the parade was a bit smaller than last year, it was still wonderfully entertaining. The ball was a lot of fun, with a sellout crowd witnessing poetry, song and dance way into the wee hours.

One of the highlights of the Manning Valley Winter Festival was the Nikki Bennett show held at the Waterfront Room in Taree on Friday 11 June. I must confess that I did not know a lot about Nikki before that night, which is a shame, since she grew up in Taree and was just a few years younger than me. It may have been that I wasn’t so talented in the music stakes and didn’t attend many eisteddfods, which is where Nikki was performing from the age of seven.

Her voice is amazing, and when she sung ‘Memories’, it sent goose bumps up my spine. Thanks so much Nikki for coming to sing for us and to tell us more about your life growing up in Taree. Nikki was accompanied by Bob Berrigan, a local musican we all know and love, and the show really was brilliant.

On Saturday 12 June, the Wingham Hotel, more affectionately known as the bottom pub, was the venue for the closing event of the festival. ‘A Hot Winter’s Night’ was a Burlesque show made up of lots of sizzling vignettes of dance and song, along with fire eating and lots more spicy entertainment.

The festival ran from 4 June to 13 June with around 32 events, including Envirofair, Melbourne Comedy Festival, Poetry for the People and Sensational Sinfonia. Congratulations to the organisers of the Manning Valley Winter Festival and also to the organisers of Beef Week and the Bonnie Wingham Scottish Festival. These festivals bring people together and create a space for locals and tourists to enjoy great entertainment.

On Tuesday 15 June a busload of Asian business men and women from Hokubee Australia visited Mondrook Garden Café for lunch. The group was led by Peter Badgen, who was taking them on to Wingham Meatworks followed by a visit to Cassegrain wines, with a stopover in Port Macquarie.

A great day was had by all and they really enjoyed their lovely lunch, commenting on the beautiful garden and the lovely settings.

On Friday 21 May the UNE officially opened their new Access Centre in Taree. Around 60 guests attended the opening and included dignitaries Vice Chancellor of the University of New England, Professor James Barber, Robert Oakeshott MP, Peter Besseling MP and Mayor Paul Hogan.

Guests also included high school principals and careers advisors, members of local community groups and representatives from local health organisations. Guests enjoyed canapés provided by Bent on Food.

The 22 of May was the date for the opening of Cudgerie Little House in Elands. The guests enjoyed a wonderful meal cooked by proprietors Carol and Terence Golding, which included the beautiful Cudgerie Limousin beef. It was a cool day and the guest house was very cosy, with a beautiful fire to warm us while looking over the valley.

Dignitaries included Mayor Paul Hogan, Local Member Andrew Stoner and Wingham Chamber of Commerce President Janeece Irving. I was honoured to be invited to officially open the cottage.

The Biggest Morning Tea week opened all over Australia on 24 May, with Wingham Wellbeing’s Biggest Morning Tea held at Bent on Food on the Tuesday. Dr Jenny Draper was on hand to talk to clients, who enjoyed scones, coffee and cake with a proportion of the takings being donated to the Cancer Council. There was also a brief session on ‘How to perform your own Cheeky Check Up’ by Dr Jenny’s fabulous new practice nurse, Rachel.

The Peggy Van Zalm trio played at Bent on Food on Friday 18 June to a crowd of 41 people. Guests enjoyed great comfort food fitting for winter, including lamb shanks followed by a rhubarb quince crumble made from local fruit. A group of 13 girls from Stacks the Law Firm had an exceptional time and promised to attend the next music night; I am holding you to it, girls.

James Johnston will be our next guest musician in July.

I look forward to hearing from you with any events you would like me to write about.

Send pics and info to

donna.carrier@bigpond.com

Cheers, Donna.