Historical information

From its earliest days, the Ithacan Philanthropic Society has conducted an annual family picnic held at country towns on Melbourne's urban fringe. For many years Bacchus Marsh was a popular venue where this picnic group was photographed. Women would prepare delicious traditional Greek food and families would group together to enjoy a wonderful picnic spread.

Significance

The annual Ithacan Picnic has been a very important event on the society's social calendar. In the early days, as many of the families ran family businesses such as fruit shops, fish shops and cafes, Sunday was the only break they had away from their work. The picnic gave them a chance to relax and to catch up with extended family and friends.
Today the picnic continues to be an extremely popular day for the members where generations of Australian Ithacans get the opportunity to reunite.

Physical description

A black and white photograph of a large group at a picnic standing and sitting around and enjoying a picnic meal which has been spread out on the ground. Three cars are parked in the background under the trees.