TWO years have come around quickly since the last Red Gum Festival (RGF) at Cavendish and it’s fast approaching for the 2024 event to be held on the weekend of April, Friday 12, Saturday 13, and Sunday 14.

The whole weekend event will be held by the Wannon River or in proximity to, in the heart of red gum country, and in or around the Cavendish’s Soldiers’ Memorial Hall, including at the Cavendish Primary School.

Kicking off the full weekend of activities will be a gala opening (ticketed) in the Red Gum Gallery of the hall, on Friday, April 12 at 7.00pm.

Once again, esteemed Professor Andrew Campbell FTSE FAICD, former chief executive of Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and part-time Cavendish local, will be the Festival Ambassador and will officially open the festival at the gala.

Professor Campbell’s knowledge and passion for the environment and sustainability is extensive having worked in research, education and agriculture for more than 40 years.

Professor Campbell retired from ACIAR last year and for the last half of 2023 undertook a tenure as interim chief executive of the global organisation, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, in Montpellior, France, overseeing ten thousand staff in over 90 countries with a budget of $1 billion USD.

Looking forward to getting back home, Professor Campbell said Cavendish is “my dreaming country”.

“It is very much a feeling of coming home into a landscape that is very meaningful for me,” he said.

“It’s a landscape that is extremely attractive and compared to many parts of Australia, and the world, we’re blessed with relatively reliable seasons and relatively good rainfall… and not the worst soils in Australia.

“It is great farming country - but that doesn’t mean we can be complacent about the red gum country.

“At the moment, we have had three relatively good years so it’s looking in good condition, but we know that with climate change there is increased variability - there’s more extreme weather and often at the ‘wrong time of year’ and so even in the red gum country it is becoming harder to farm because of climate change.”

Professor Campbell will be chairing the environmental forum at the Red Gum Festival; ‘Man’s effect on our natural Red Gum environment’.

“The forum will bring together experts who look at the long-term management of red gum country from their diverse perspectives including production, timber, grazing, and so on,” he said.

“The great thing about the Red Gum Festival is that it celebrates this wonderful landscape from all sorts of angles through art, music, poetry, photography, sculpture, and local history, and the perspectives of school children.

“It’s a wonderful community festival - it’s a great thing for Cavendish and the district.”

The gala precedes a host of happenings that will entertain and inspire, educate, and delight, throughout the weekend.

On the main festival day, Saturday, starting with the Red Gum Run & Ramble along the Wannon River, there will be numerous activities including kite making, a yoga class, a floral workshop, a gumleaf watercolour masterclass, blade shearing demonstrations, a photography lesson, wood carving and a dog high jump.

Among the exciting displays will be sculptor, Rob Bast, who will carve a creation into a tree trunk opposite the hall - that will be live art on Saturday.

The committee is also thrilled to announce that Ross Paterson will be attending as the 2024 Feature Artist in the Red Gum Gallery.

A professional and versatile artist with over forty years’ experience, Ross is internationally recognized as a leading, proficient watercolourist, who is also well respected for his “en plein air” paintings in pastel and oil.

All of this will be complemented by stalls including food and beverages, and live music.

Committee president, James Young said there was a wide range of activities planned for everybody.

“There’s a few new attractions this year, with a rock climbing wall, our forum speakers and an artist in residence.

“We utilise the whole stretch of the town, so people get a good look at our town.

“It’s a long build up over two years - and we’re all really looking forward to it.”

On Sunday, again, there will be the ever popular and informative tour through red gum country around Cavendish including two farm visits.

First stop is at Anna and Jarrod Sweeney’s “Wattle Park” to explore an execution of whole farm planning and holistic grazing management, followed by a stop at the property of James and Jodie Young, “Eulong” looking at and hearing about the history of Mt Cavendish. There will be a light snack provided and attendees will hear from speakers.

Bring your family, bring your friends, and help the community celebrate the magnificent and iconic red gum.

For more information and tickets go to: cavendishredgumfestival.com.au