Tomerong Hall Wattle Day Celebration & Drought Relief Fundraiser

Event Details

Since 1922 National Wattle Day has been celebrated on 1^st September but before then was celebrated on different days across the states as far back as 1910.    Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) has been the floral emblem of Australia since before  Federation ….and of course our national colours are green and gold.

It’s a day to celebrate whatever you wish about our Great Southern Land: the end of winter and the coming of spring, our history, our environment, bushland decked in sprays of gold…or simply just being Australian, whatever that may mean to you: a fair go, the larrikin spirit, generosity, our welcoming nature and democratic traditions.

Acacias have been used by the First Australians for thousands of years. Great tracts of Australian country carry the Aboriginal name of the wattle species common in the area… Myall, Mulga, Brigalow and Gidgee for example. We have close to 1,000 species of wattle and at any given time there is wattle blooming somewhere across our vast continent. About a hundred of these were put to good use by our First Australians. The seeds and roots of wattles were a popular food source.  Wattle gum was a snack food and wichetty grubs lived in them. The Aborigines had many different methods of preparing medicines from wattle plants including a form of narcotic called pituri which was produced from the ash of several wattle species. 

Wood from wattles was used to produce weapons and implements such as boomerangs and coolamons and it was excellent slow burning firewood.  The bark of many species could be used to produce string for bags and nets and the tree was also used to make clap sticks for ceremonies.                                                               

So on September 1^st wish somebody Happy Wattle Day and join us at the Hall from 5pm for some music & fun.

MUSIC:  Open mic affair so anybody is welcome to rock up and plug in.

Entry will be way of a donation at the door and all money raised will be shared equally between the Rural Fire Service and the Drought Fund for Local Farmers.