Easter event pioneer looks forward to looking back every year

Residents of Griffith and surrounds descended on the park for the annual event with activities and entertainment enjoyed by young and old.

While seven-year-old Violet Leach may not have her driver’s license yet, it didn't stop her from sitting up the front to help steer the horse and buggy making laps of the park. Violet said she was very impressed with the activities on the day, and enjoyed riding on the train circling the park.

“But going on the horse and carriage was my favourite,” she said.

For Mr Morris the popularity of the day is a reflection of the interest all ages still have in the past.

“There’s a lot of history here,” he said. “It’s something old where people can walk down and experience what things were like, you’ve got to look back at the past sometimes.”

Mr Morris, who organised the first three Action Days, was impressed with the sheer amount of displays and activities on the day. An active participant in Easter celebrations over the years, Mr Morris said he once drove two bullock teams up the main street for the Easter parade in 1977.

“It's just another day really, but it's so good to meet everyone and to get together,” he said.

One of the most popular attractions was the blacksmiths’ hut where a two-man team demonstrated exactly how much things had changed over the years.

Mario Codemo and his apprentice John Bisetto showed visitors the traditional method of making horse shoes. An old hand at the blacksmith trade, Mr Codemo began to learn as a six-year-old boy in Italy and was eager to explain the forgotten art to the audience.

“There are not many of us around today,” he said. “These days with electric drills and tools it is much better. But they used to have to make all the tools for things we use drills for now and any other tools, it was very hard work.”