News 21 September 2008

Gumnutters support Woodend Children's Park

Local entertainers, the Gumnutters, have donated $500 to Woodend Children's Park. This story by Justin Charleson, highlights yet another example of the extraordinary community spirit in Woodend that is helping to bring Woodend Children's Park to fruition.

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A Great Australian Tale
by Justin Charleson, Cultural Development Venue Technical Supervisor, Macedon Ranges Shire

Sunday 11am:
I'm sitting at the sound desk in the Kyneton Town Hall next to a bloke called Phil who is a machinery automation worker, he's doing lighting for the show that's about to start. The cast is made up of a wide cross-section of the Macedon Ranges Community; a Baker, a Teacher, a Mental Health worker, a Yoga instructor, a Landscape Gardener, a Doctor, a Community Development officer with our council, Mums, Dads and Kids. The show is called The Gumnutters, it is the story of one day in the Australian Bush, and how we interact with our environment, our country's history, who we are as Australians and the environmental issues facing the whole world.

The cast onstage is 35 people strong, but behind the scenes there are grandparents, uncles and aunts, baby brothers and sisters. The profits from the show will go to community projects chosen by the Gumnutters including Woodend Children's Park, the Toy Library and an environmental cause. Last year the Gumnutters show at the Woodend Community Center raised money for the Toy Library and the Children's Park.

Sunday 3pm:
The Shows were a great success with 400 audience members, families enjoying song, dance and story telling. The quality of the performers was equal to the professional touring companies that play at the Town Hall. It's hard to believe that the Gumnutters aren't working as full time professional entertainers.

At the end of the show I'm proud of our Cultural Development Unit for supporting the show, Proud of the Macedon Ranges Shire Council for being an open organisation that allows this to happen. But mostly I'm proud of the Macedon Ranges Community; the audience who came to enjoy a local show with a global message, and the Gumnutters who didn't weigh the thousands of hours of hard work against ticket prices and performance fees.

The word culture can be a hard to define, and can mean the mould on a forgotten tub of dip in the back of the fridge as easily as it can describe Michel Angelo's expression of faith on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. But today the Gumnutters have defined it pretty clearly. With their songs and stories about; who we are, where we've come from, what we do, what we believe in and where we are going.

Woodend Children's Park Incorporated ABN 76 727 270 589