IF there’s one thing that has been the key to success for the Wood, Wine and Roses festival, it has been the ability to keep changing to keep the public’s interest.

And that has never before been more important than now, as the festival committee looks forward to the 2022 event in Heywood.

Glenelg Shire’s largest event by attendance, with about 12,000 people attending the last couple of festivals, Wood, Wine and Roses is back after being cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

Like many local events there were fears that the break might mean the end of the festival, and that was compounded when organisers of the truck and ute shows decided to run them separately from the main festival.

But, as reported in the Observer in September, Wood, Wine and Roses will be back – with a few changes – on February 26.

It will be the 29th version of the festival, which began in 1993.

Norma Boyer is generally credited with being the brains behind its founding and she and fellow founding committee members Joy Savill and Alan Lewis are still volunteering on the committee.

Mrs Boyer recalled those beginnings.

“We started off at the footy ground, there was a beautiful parade but there weren’t a lot of stalls,” she said.

Wood, Wine and Roses was designed to promote Heywood, and the idea was born after the Heywood Traders Group looked for a solution.

“I said ‘why doesn’t Heywood have a show?’,” Mrs Boyer said.

“They said ‘nobody can think of anything’.

“We didn’t want just cows and cattle and sheep and I said that timber and wine (could be better).”

Joy Benbow came up with the roses part of the formula after talking to the floral art club.

The former Heywood Shire Council came up with $1000 to kick things off “and we’ve run at a profit ever since”, Mrs Benbow said.

Mr Lewis said it had “been touch and go ever since” but the committee had always looked to donate proceeds to worthwhile causes around Heywood.

One of its first projects was a seating area on Scott St followed by the rose garden behind the Fitzroy River bridge, which was dedicated to late councillor Barbara Yuill, a great supporter of the festival.

And that support has been reciprocated.

“It’s amazing the way the town’s always supported the festival,” Mrs Boyer said, that also extending to how quick locals are to clean up on the Sunday.

“It’s just like topsy how it’s grown.”

Mrs Savill said the attractions had changed over the years to keep up with demand.

A highlight at the initial show was a nail-driving competition.

“But we ruled it out after the first year,” Mr Lewis said.

“A lot of people didn’t know how to use a hammer and three-inch nails were flying around everywhere.”

A tug o’ war and mower racing were some of the other early highlights, but organisers were never afraid to make changes.

“That’s the secret, if you don’t evolve and do what the people want, people won’t come,” Mr Lewis said.

It has also been affordable – the first year entry was $2.

“We always tried to keep the cost down to encourage families, and let children under 16 in free,” Mr Lewis said.

“Our stallholders have been very loyal too.

“A strawberry lady came from Victor Harbor every year and when she sold the business she told the new guy he had to come to Heywood – he still supports us.”

As do the three committee members.

“If it wasn’t so good we wouldn’t have kept coming back,” Mrs Savill said.

Mr Lewis agreed.

“We’ve had a lot of enjoyable times over the years.”

And Mrs Boyer has been encouraged by the number of new people who have come on board over the years.

“It’s good to have all the younger ones with their fresh ideas,” she said.

The trio were also called on to do the honours at a special ceremony in Heywood on Thursday.

The “new” Wood, Wine and Roses sign went up earlier this year but the coronavirus restrictions meant an “official” ribbon-cutting ceremony couldn’t be held until now.

Committee president Ross Barclay echoed the words of the originals when he spoke at the ceremony.

“We’re really excited to be able to get going again next year,” he said.

“We’ve come up with new ideas with having new people and I think this is what’s going to make it a successful festival.

“We have been known to be one of the best festivals in the area and we want to keep that going.

“We’ve shut one door, we’ve opened another door and we’re creating a new look for Wood, Wine and Roses in 2022.”

After the ceremony Mr Barclay said despite the publicity people were still asking him if the festival had been cancelled again.

“We need to get the message out that it’s definitely on,” he said.

Glenelg Shire Mayor Anita Rank said at the ceremony that the ability to adapt had served the festival well.

“I know the heartache you and the community went through when you had to postpone (2021),” she said.

“Nobody likes to do that (but) you’ve been able to regroup.

“To go so long you do have to take on board new ideas and things like that.

“We know people are looking for events, they’re looking to travel and Heywood and the shire are going to be busy.

“We’re getting back (to) doing things and we’re looking forward to partnering with you in one of the premier events of the shire.”