Nevil Scroggie, left, Marc Lemke and Ken Lemke (front) of the Port Fairy Citizens' Band perform at the market during the Rhapsody in June weekend. Picture: LEANNE GOURLEY
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Nevil Scroggie, left, Marc Lemke and Ken Lemke (front) of the Port Fairy Citizens' Band perform at the market during the Rhapsody in June weekend. Picture: LEANNE GOURLEY
FEWER visitors to Port Fairy's Rhapsody in June weekend failed to dampen festival spirit in the town.
Rhapsody in June organising committee chairwoman Natalie Trengove said although this year's music weekend had not drawn as many visitors as in previous years, good weather, added attractions, more local interest and quality acts had ensured a successful festival.
Ms Trengove said a highlight of the weekend was the sell-out Women In Song performance, held at St John's Anglican Church on Saturday night.
Shane Howard, Wendy Goyen, Andy Alberts and Michael Schack at the Stump Sunday afternoon
She said more than 100 people crammed into the church to hear Maree Ciavola, Oriel Glennen, Anna-Lee Robertson and the Ann and Katherine duo perform their varied musical acts.
Angela and Don - "Flint" photographed during a break at the Victoria Hotel
She said the large crowd at the event reflected similarly well-attended performances throughout the weekend. "We've just finished the family concert. We had 150 people there which is an awfully large amount when you consider there's so much going on in town," Ms Trengove said last night.
Andy Alberts and Trevor McKenzie (lead guitarist with "Lost in Suburbia") relax by the fire in the Stump
She said although visitor numbers had been down this year, there had been a lot of interest from locals in activities going on around town."We had strong support from the locals. It's starting to become part of their calendar year," Ms Trengove said.She said a bread and butter pudding baking contest, ghost tours and an old-time dance, new features to this year's event, combined with a
weekend of sunny, rain-free weather, had made for a successful event.
A new role for Peter Bird (left) as Murray McDowall takes over the bass guitar during Lost in Suburbia's gig at the Stump
Port Fairy tourist officer Andrea Lowenthal said despite fewer tourists in the town for this year's rhapsody weekend the visitor information centre had still been kept busy. "Certainly, there has been lots of people here. I just don't think it's been as busy as last year." Ms Lowenthal said she believed fewer visitors this year than in previous years may have been due to a good early
start to the ski season, with many people using the long weekend as a chance to visit the snow.
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