How to dress for the races?

A question Rosie Fallon and Ann Rosewood pondered as they began training to represent Emporium Bellingen in the canoe races on October 29th at the Riverfest.

Ann   Rosewood, owner of  Emporium  Bellingen is excited about the Inaugural riverfest. Bellingen CBD always seemed to turn its back to the river. Having returned after a six months absence from Bellingen   it now feels like the town is starting to face the river, our most beautiful resource.

Travel in 2011 has emphasized to me that small communities can remain strong and retain a sense of "village life" by maintaining their rituals and developing new ones.

It is heartening to see "Festivals" arise from the impulse of the community. It concerns me that many of our significant rituals Christmas, Easter, Mothers Day are seen as an opportinity to Have a "Sale" for example. Even in India I have seen more evidence in shop windows of "Devali Sales" than the actual celebration of Divali as a social and spiritual festival.

Of course the commercial life of Bellingen benefits from festivals. Sustaining employment is vital to the stability of the community. Focusing attention on the river which flows through Bellingen will ensure that it is cared for and the habitat that relies on river health will be protected.