Right: The coming of spring will spark a celebration in Pakenham. Organising the festival is the LLINC adult literacy class of 2005. Pictured from back row at left are Jacob Dijkman, Elena Arapu, Mick Bowerman, Leigh Arnold, Jesse Fitzgerald, Alex Toohey, Angelica Phoenix, Amanda Pervan, Cassie Trotter, Dana Matthews, Julianne Ward, LLINC secretary John Goff, Sally Karnakowsi and Mandy Boyle. THE end of winter won’t just be welcomed in Pakenham, it will be cause for celebration.
A group of adult literacy students at Living and Learning in Cardinia (LLINC) is organising a festival for the first day of spring.
Music, dancing, wine tasting, cooking demonstrations and an art exhibition featuring paintings from local artists will be highlights of the festival at the LLINC building in Henry Street.
The event will celebrate social and cultural diversity.
Students from around Pakenham and district have been working hard for several weeks with tutor Vivienne Skarbek and other helpers, including LLINC committee of management secretary John Goff, to bring the event together.
“It should be a great day,” Vivienne said.
“We started planning this right at the beginning of the year. Now all we need is beautiful spring weather and lots of people.”
Local schools will be involved in the festival as well as community groups and organisations such as Centrelink.
The event has been sponsored by VicHealth and will be officially opened by Victorian parliamentary secretary for training and higher education, Oakleigh MP Ann Barker.
“There will be free dance lessons, including hip hop and line dancing, a sausage sizzle and fairy floss for the children,” Vivienne said.
“We’ve tried to include something for everybody, from the very young to our elderly citizens.”
The spring festival runs from 2 pm to 5 pm on Thursday, 1 September.
