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Town abuzz for blooming wild weekend

Tristan WheelerManjimup-Bridgetown Times
Artist Sobrane and organiser Lyn Willett take part in the ceremonial dipping of the paint brush.
Camera IconArtist Sobrane and organiser Lyn Willett take part in the ceremonial dipping of the paint brush. Credit: Tristan Wheeler/Manjimup-Bridgetown Times, Tristan Wheeler

Visitors flocked to Boyup Brook at the weekend to experience all the town’s Blooming Wild Weekend had to offer.

Organised by the Boyup Brook Visitor Centre, the festival had attractions including live art, wildflower tours, vintage cars and art shows, including a photography exhibition at the town’s community resource centre and the Art on Abel event.

The wildflower tours were guided by botanist Erica Shedley and funded by the Blackwood Basin Group’s National Resource Management funding.

Organiser Lyn Willett said she knew of visitors from Mandurah, Waroona and Perth who had made the trip for the weekend.

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Sobrane utilised a cherry picker to help her paint the shed.
Camera IconSobrane utilised a cherry picker to help her paint the shed. Credit: Manjimup-Bridgetown Times

“It was just wonderful, super, amazing, any word that you like to describe it,” she said.

“Saturday morning was a buzz, we had a lot of people in town, lots travelled from Perth.”

The live art was done by Broome’s Sobrane — who grew up in Boyup Brook — and was asked to paint the town’s railway shed as well as a field bin donated by local farmer Bill Gordon.

The shed will be painted in three stages and will feature artwork depicting trains, as well as native flora and fauna.

The festival was declared officially open in a short ceremony that featured a ceremonial dipping of a paint brush by Sobrane.

The launch was attended by a crowd of 50 people, made up of locals and visitors.

The railway station mural was funded by the Foundation of Rural and Regional Renewal.

Sobrane said she was buzzing to begin the project.

Mrs Willett said the community spirit displayed in organising the event had blown her away.

“I reckon 100 people have been involved ... the community has really got behind it,” she said.

Ted Willett and Bill Gordon, who donated the field bin for painting.
Camera IconTed Willett and Bill Gordon, who donated the field bin for painting. Credit: Manjimup-Bridgetown Times

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