A small, but dedicated committee has accepted the challenge of co-ordinating the first of two major events for the town — for Sunday, October 2.
Glenda Cowie, from Stanhope Business Centre, is leading the charge with the support of Christine Dicketts, Brett Auld and Des Crichton — along with the backing of Stanhope’s close-knit community.
The food and wine festival will be the first of two major events for the town, a five-hour celebration between 11am and 4pm which not only focus on food and drink but also offer children’s entertainment and music.
Celebrate Stanhope is the result of the Stanhope Place Based Plan, which received a grant that had the proviso of being used by the end of October.
The $30,000 Murray Darling Basin Authority grant was secured with the support of Campaspe shire and the group has been meeting fortnightly since April to plan the event.
Just 12 days after the staging of Celebrate Stanhope the town will host a visit by the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
But the initial focus of the energetic organising committee is to attract hundreds, if not thousands of people to Celebrate Stanhope.
Glenda Cowie, who is one of a handful of organisers to have a hand on the steering wheel, said the ultimate goal was to celebrate the town.
"We came up with the theme, Celebrate Stanhope, with the aim of putting the town back on the map.
“Everyone had a job and it has come together well. We may be famous for our cheese, but there is a lot more to Stanhope than that,” she said.
Celebrate Stanhope’s Food and Wine Festival will be held from 11am to 4pm in Birdwood Ave.
My Kitchen Rules contestant Jodie-Anne Barlow will be among the special guests and will present her thoughts on creating Champagne Food on a Beer Budget.
Demonstrations will be held at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm in McEwen Place.
She has become a You Tube sensation through a series showing people how to shop and make great dishes with what they have at home, along with heroing the true legends of Australian produce — its farmers.
Pinot and Picasso from Shepparton will be at the celebration, but people must book in advance to attend.
Direct bookings can be made to 0448 035115 or on the website pinotandpicasso.com.au/shepparton Sessions will be held at 11.30am and 2pm.
Music will be held for the entire five hours of the event, from from Ellia & Keegan the Duo, Elias Lanyon, Tim Richards, Glenda Edwards and The Healers.
Children’s entertainment for the day consists of horse and buggy rides running throughout the day, clowns and balloon Twisters from Enchanted Rainbow wandering through the crowd and Stanhope face painter Kym Patten will be making all the children’s faces very colourful.
There will be a variety of wine, beer and cider on offer all day.
Wine By Sam, Callipari Wines, Stanhope Family Hotel and Cheeky Grog co will all have stalls, along with other wineries such as Humis Vineyards and the Farmer & the Scientist.
Food Vans from Nanna Marce (Filipino), Grill on Wheels (Indian), JR Coffee and Stanhope Café with hot jam donuts will complement the creations from Angelo’s Pizza & Pasta, who will have their doors open for business.
There will also be a Men’s Shed barbecue.
Fonterra will have its cheese on display and some tastings will be available, while other stalls include Armstrong’s Rivers Edge Olive Oil, Ironbark Apiaries Honey and GV Water Hydration Stations.
The four groups behind the Celebrate Stanhope event are Shire of Campaspe, Murray Darling Basin Authority, Stanhope Business Centre and GV Water.
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