Icon looks to future

By Justin Robertson
A CARDINIA Shire councillor has called on the shire’s youth to get on board the Yakkerboo Festival committee.
Councillor Graeme Moore’s push for young minds comes at a time when the gigantic iconic Mr Yakkerboo figure sits on the driveway at a heritage house in the town in dire need of a paint job.
Like Mr Yakkerboo, Cr Moore said at last week’s committee meeting at Pakenham’s Living and Learning centre, the festival is in need of a revamp.
“In the past 15 years the festival has not seen a lot of change,” he said to the group of 15 made up of residents, local traders and committee members.
“At the moment it seems to lack purpose and we need to show that it’s moving and changing.”
Cr Moore said the Yakkerboo festival – dubbed “Pakenham’s “mini-Moomba” by one resident – has exhausted all ideas since it started and will be turning to the public to brainstorm some new and improved themes and floats.
“We’ve changed one thing each year,” Cr Moore said. “We’ve had tanks, motorbikes, sky diving commandos, talent shows, remote control cars, paper aeroplanes, fireworks – just have to think now, where to take it.”
Some suggestions from residents included forming specific niche sub committees, better publicity of the event and a stronger online presence.
After posting the question, “What theme would you like to see at Yakkerboo?”, on the Gazette’s Facebook wall last week, residents discussed the idea of having an international or Australiana theme as well as an historic Pakenham theme.
One resident wrote “more kinders and school themes”.
Cr Moore said the future of the festival needs a youthful touch.
“Pakenham needs to take ownership of this,” he said. “Let’s grow the parade and get schools involved.”
During the 35 years of the festival, Cr Moore said Mr Yakkerboo used to visit schools in the area and the students made paper mache tiles, signed them and donated them to the big wire body.
“Then he was burned by some youths and now he’s covered in fibreglass,” he said.
Looking ahead, Cr Moore said with Yakkerboo needing an overhaul – showing signs of splitting and deterioration – the local Men’s Shed could be slated with the task of refurbishing the run-down icon.
“What about a motorised head?” said one resident at the meeting.
Despite the Yakkerboo Festival AGM being scheduled for 24 August – when final decisions on next year’s themes will be made – Cr Moore said that the future of Yakkerboo revolves around educating schools on the festival.
“Bringing Mr Yakkerboo into the schools, would build up the enthusiasm for the kids,” he said.