SEVEN weeks of family-friendly events designed to showcase Loddon Shire's best natural attractions will spring in to action this Sunday.
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A Father's Day with a difference at the Barraport property of metal sculptor John Piccoli will serve as the first event in this year's Naturally Loddon Spring Festival.
Fourteen events make up this year's festival, offering everything from wildflower shows and family days at Terrick Terrick National Park and Tarnagulla, to fishing and archery competitions, and a Birds of the Loddon art and photographic exhibition.
The festival winds-up with a new age festival and farmers market at Wedderburn on Sunday, October 25.
The annual festival aims to showcase the region's natural beauty with a series of events.
Loddon Shire Mayor Gavan Holt said the festival offered something for everyone, with many events free.
“Naturally Loddon is not only an opportunity for local residents to get out and enjoy themselves, but also a great chance for day visitors and others to explore what the region has to offer,” he said.
Sunday's open day and Father's Day picnic will offer the chance to view more than 45 sculptures made by Mr Piccoli from spanners.
His tallest sculpture, known as The Marlin, stands over 7 metres tall, weighs 1200 kilograms and is made from 3500 spanners.
Other pieces include an iconic shearer, a family of deer, a pair of fighting stallions, and a Mallee bull.
Mr Piccoli, who contracted polio at age and spent the next three years in hospital, has run the family farm, near Boort, from a wheelchair since he was 18.
Visitors to the property will be greeted by 85 pieces of vintage farm machinery and two acres of manicured gardens, littered with macaws, pheasants, peacocks and guinea fowl.
His property attracted more than 7000 visitors last financial year, more than double the previous year.
As part of the spring festival, budding artists will have an opportunity to display their talents as part of the Boort Sculpture By The Lake competition.
Naturally Loddon is not only an opportunity for local residents to get out and enjoy themselves, but also a great chance for day visitors and others to explore what the region has to offer.
- Loddon Shire Mayor Gavan Holt
The October 10 event is part of the annual Boort Agricultural and Pastoral Society Show.
Boort Development Committee secretary Rod Poxon said the competition, now in its fourth year, continued to get bigger and better each year.
“The competition is on the back of John Piccoli and his spanner creations, so there is a lot of interest,” he said.
“We are getting more and more entries each year – the actual quality last year was amazing.
“It’s part of the annual Boort Show – now in its 129th year, but it’s getting to the point of being big enough to be a stand-alone event.”
A total of $4000 prizemoney will be offered at this year’s competition.
Boort will also be the venue for a family carp fishing competition on the shores on October 18 and 19.
The event on the shores of Little Lake Boort is hosted by the Boort Angling Club.
For a full list of festival events, visit www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Visit/Natural-attractions/Naturally-Loddon