Puddle-jumper paradise at Girgarre Open Gardens

Event committee member Sally Canning said the team was in high spirits throughout the event, taking the rain in its stride.

“No-one actually seemed too bothered by the weather, it was how it goes on, really,” she said.

“And, from what our volunteers and people that attended the market were saying, the farmers needed it.

“Soggy or not, we were happy.”

Girgarre Primary School manned the barbecue, making sure everyone’s hands stayed warm with a snag and onion.

Market stalls were set up in the green fields of the Gargarro Botanic Gardens and while extra tents helped the stall holders keep dry, umbrellas were essential for those who visited.

Mrs Canning said market stallholders found surprising success with those who turned up to support the event.

“People that came along could see they weren’t going to do well, so everyone bought off them, which was really nice,” she said.

“(Stallholders) were actually quite rapt with how it went.”

The garden’s brand-new sculpture Banksia, created by junk artist Julian Smith, was unveiled just as the sun began shining again, with about 60 people gathering to watch the new art piece in motion.

The high tea also went on as planned, only in the Girgarre Town Hall, where tables had been beautifully decorated by Rob Gill Estate to accommodate the 125 reserved places which were filled come 2pm.

Mrs Canning said, despite the rain, the committee was rapt with how it went.

“We wanted to thank everyone for the time, effort and positivity that (the volunteers) brought, because it made the day seem so effortless,” Mrs Canning said.

She also thanked the demonstrators, market stallholders, sponsors and especially Lorraine Ward and Shirley Weeks for their support in making the day possible.