Year in Review: Stories and pictures from April 2017

April was full of community events, and 2017 showcased the best: Bunbury Show, Donnybrook Apple Fest and, of course, Anzac Day commemorations.

Bunbury Show looks to the future

Thrilling rides, dazzling displays and plenty of live entertainment were in store for visitors to the LiveLighter Bunbury Show on 8th April.

With a program filled to the brim and fun for the whole family, this year’s show displayed new eco-friendly workshops, including bike maintenance, with climate angel Jodi Larke, right, making an appearance.

Donnybrook festival crunches numbers

The Donnybrook townsite was bursting with life as it erupted with singing, dancing and fun entertainment for the whole family.

This year, the LiveLighter Donnybrook Apple Festival took on a Harvest and Arts focus with a produce tent, log chopping, an arts tent and a diverse variety of musical talent. Dance groups, drumming groups, fashion parades and moto trials entertained crowds over an action-packed weekend.

Good eggs prevent blood shortage

While many were giving chocolate eggs during Easter, the Red Cross Bunbury Donor Centre was prompting more people to give blood during the holiday period.

The centre required up to 50 new donors to cater for the South West’s demand for blood and plasma after the Easter long weekend.

Although centre manager Sue McKenzie said the need for blood was ongoing, she urged people to sign-up and give blood prior to the Easter holiday.

Have-a-go fun for all abilities

Day sees kids ‘have a go’ at multiple sports CHILDREN of all ages and abilities congregated on Payne Park for a day full of activities and sport.

The 2017 Have-A-Go Multi-Sport Fun Day was the first for the former Special Olympics South West organisation under the WA iSports brand. An impressive 280 participants had a go at sports including soccer, golf and cricket during the event on Tuesday.

WA Sports secretary Deborah Hammond said the day was “awesome” and the biggest one the organisation had held to date.

Award name reward for dedication

Harvey Bulls club stalwart Nola Marino was honoured for more than a decade of dedication to football in the South West, with the South West Football League Women’s best and fairest award to be named after her.

The Nola Marino Medal will be presented alongside the Hayward Medal later this year, after the league’s executive decided to bestow the honour on the Member for Forrest.

Marino was the president of the Harvey Bulls for 10 years, taking over the role in 1997.

Soup van helps satisfy hungry tummies

After a “long, hard road” to get the Bunbury Soup Van up and running, those behind the wheel of the much-needed initiative were blown away by the response.

The grassroots community project, largely driven by soup van committee president Denise Ladhams, had its first soup run and businesses and strangers have been praised for its success.

City turns out to pay respects

Thousands paid their respects in Bunbury at the Anzac Day dawn and morning services.

A big crowd gathered at dawn as the sun began to rise over the Anzac Park war memorial on Victoria Street.

The HMAS Toowoomba crew formed the cenotaph guard at the commemoration after marching from the Returned and Services League on Spencer Street.

The morning service also boasted strong numbers, with many community groups, schools and community members attending to pay their respects.

Art to kickstart garden labyrinth

Efforts to build a garden labrynth in Bunbury moved ahead, with thousands of dollars’ worth of art donated for an auction to raise money for the project.

The art auction, conducted by WA Art Auctions, was held at the South West Italian Club on May 20 to raise money for the Bunbury Place for Hope garden labyrinth – the first initiative of Projects of Heart and Soul.

Group co-founder Nari Jones said more than 85 works of art worth more than $50,000 would be up for grabs with more to be added in the leadup to the event.