Event marks its 30th birthday

By Sarah Schwager
THEYakkerboo Festival celebrates its 30th birthday this year and to kick it off with a bang, organisers are calling for all past queens, princesses, float participants and other past affiliates to come along.
Yakkerboo Festival president Graeme Moore said they were keen to put on a special event this year.
“People from all walks of life have been involved in Yakkerboo,” Mr Moore said.
“For this year, being the 30th year, we want to bring people back to Pakenham to celebrate.”
Yakkerboo Festival secretary and administrator Joan Vogels said all past festival participants were invited to a birthday dinner celebration on Friday, 31 March at Pakenham Racecourse.
She urged locals to contact anyone who might have moved away from the area to let them know about the celebrations.
Mr Moore said the dinner would include entertainment, music and special guest speakers, plus the introduction of past queens and princesses.
“It will just be an entertaining evening with a meal,” Mr Moore said.
“Plus there will be a few surprises.”
Mrs Vogels said Mr Yakkerboo, a gigantic model of the famous bunyip, would be there to celebrate his birthday in person.
This year’s Yakkerboo Festival, Cardinia’s own community festival, would be a spectacular event, held for the first time at Pakenham’s PB Ronald Reserve.
The festival, which includes a street parade, market, rides, arts show, carnival and family night, runs over nine days, with most of the activities happening on Saturday, 1 April and Sunday, 2 April.
This year’s theme is the Commonwealth Games.
“It’ll be a bit of fun and this year’s going to be bigger and better,” Mr Moore said.
To attend the birthday dinner, people need to contact Joan Vogels on 5940 1926 for bookings.