Historical information

The fifth Eltham Community Festival was held 11-20 August 1979. The theme of the festival was “Along the Main Road” and was the first time the Shire of Eltham Historical Society (forerunner of the Etham District Historical Society) entered a float in the Festival Grand Parade.

The Society's participation in this year's Eltham Community Festival was highly successful. We arranged an exhibition in the Eltham Library on the theme of ''Along the Main Road" and our float in the Festival Grand Parade "Pioneers of Eltham" won the prize donated by Pegasus Interiors for the best Eltham theme.

The success of the float was due mainly to the efforts of Joh Ebeli. Joh was entirely responsible for the design and artistic work on the float and with help from Geoffery Loftus-Hills and Mark Gough actually constructed it.

Society members and friends together with members of the Victorian Folk Music Club completed the picture, riding on and walking with the float in the parade.

Mrs. Opal Smith and Mrs. B. Brinkkotter organized many of the costumes for participating members and Mrs. Phyllis Macdonald made the arrangements with the Victorian Folk Music Club.

Thanks were also due to Mr. P. Quirke of Research Fruit Supply for the loan of his truck and to Eltham Hardware and Plumbing Supplies for the donation of materials for construction of the float.

The $50.00 prize was shared with the Victorian Folk Music Club.

Following the success of this event, it was considered that future parades were an important annual event for the society to participate in.

Physical description

35 mm colour positive transparency
Mount - Agfachrome Professional black (Germany) 4 dots