Wine and fine: Celebrate Stanhope food and wine festival committee members Susie McGraw, Brett Ould and Glenda Cowie toast the success of the food and wine event.
Stanhope has set a high standard with its inaugural staging of the Celebrate Stanhope Food and Wine Festival in what what had become unofficially known in the district as festival season.
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The festival at Stanhope on Sunday attracted more than 750 people into a closed-off Birdwood Ave and will be followed this weekend by Tongala’s Eats and Beats Festival, along with the October 22 Tastes and Tunes Festival in Kyabram.
Speaking on behalf of the organising committee, Glenda Cowie said no-one could believe how successful it was.
“We are all absolutely amazed at how well it went.
“At one point there, half way through the day, there were no seats for anyone to sit down.
“We were blown away by the people who helped us, townspeople who were not even on the committee who helped set up and then, at the end of the day, pack up,” Mrs Cowie said.
She said when the organising committee put letters out to promote the event, and ask for assistance, it received a great response.
“On the day we had members of various groups, including the men’s shed and the fire brigade, who volunteered to help.
“It was just terrific,” she said.
The committee has made an unofficial pledge to stage a second event next year, although funding for the event will be a challenge after a special contribution from the Murray Darling Basin Authority via the Campaspe shire.
“We have already made a decision to run it next year after the feedback from the event on social media.
“All the donations from the entry points will be put toward next year,” Mrs Cowie said
Adrian Weston represented Campaspe Shire Council at the event, which featured an appearance from My Kitchen Rules contestants Jodie-Anne Barlow and Alice Bottomley.
“They were very popular, as were the savoury Japenese pancakes they served,” Mrs Cowie said.
Sipping in the sun: Chloe and Michelle Messenger were among 750 people to pour through the gates at the inaugural Stanhope festival in Birdwood Ave on Sunday.
Awesome day: Christine Dicketts had a busy Sunday afternoon, not only as part of the food and wine festival organising committee, but as host to grandsons Jack, 7, and Harry McCarthy, 4. They are the sons of Brendan and Erin (Christine's daughter, who grew up in Stanhope and now live in Greensborough).
Fitting subject: Cailtin Colliver from Tatura was cast in the lead role for Stanhope's Pinot and Picasso class, ideally focused on the subject of the day — a wine glass. She works with the Shepparton-based art and wine experience.
Big crowd: By 1pm on Sunday there were few seats available at the closed-off Birdwood Ave festival site, pointing to a successful festival season for similar events to be staged at Tongala (Eats & Beats on October 9) and Kyabram (Tastes & Tunes on October 22).
Celebrity chefs: Reality cooking competition constestants Jodie-Anne Barlow and Alice Bottomley have become best friends since meeting at the suggestion of My Kitchen Rules producers. After a sleepover at Jodie-Anne's Torrumbarry property, the pair shared the limelight at Stanhope's Food and Wine Festival on Sunday. Alice and her father Peter were extremely popular contestants from this season, the Castlemaine pair having a strong connection to the area — Jodie’s grandparents had a dairy farm at Pine Lodge
Brushing up: Sandra (front) and Jamie Basic from Girgarre in the early stages of their Pinot and Picasso tutorial at lunch time on Sunday at the food and wine festival.
Festival debutante: Ten-week-old Rex Dennis was, understanbly, at his first food and wine festival — guest of his Shepparton grandparents Eppo and Shelley Sloots, along with parents Cam and Bec (back).
Balloon boys: Girgarre brothers Charlie and Ollie were among many children who celebrated the balloon creations of Shepparton's Enchanted Rainbow Entertainment company.
Clowning around: Two-year-old Piper Maloney, from Tatura, with her balloon animal and entertainers Ebbony Davis and Chloe Lee — among a variety of family friendly options for children at the Stanhope festival.
Asian flavour: Judy Sutton, and her husband Kevin, returned from Singapore less than a month ago — where they visited their daughter and her husband (currently working overseas). The former Stanhope farmers now live in Shepparton, but were part of a big crowd at the Celebrate Stanhope festival on Sunday.
