IN A world plagued by COVID Australians just wanted life to get back to some form of normal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And as 2021 continued to throw up coronavirus-related problems, Bendigo residents kept persevering and ensuring the community had things to do in between lockdowns.
Hobbies and projects to keep people occupied were popular with some creatives finding great success.
There was no shortage of stories for arts and entertainment writer Chris Pedler as community groups and local organisations pressed ahead in presenting works.
It was a year where Bendigo, Victoria and Australia continued to show huge amounts of generosity and unwavering support, determination to create and its strong sense of community.
Here are journalist Chris Pedler's five favourite stories from 2021:
Bendigo Theatre Company's return to the stage after two years away
We Will Rock You was originally planned as BTC's 2020 production before COVID hit and forced its postponement a week before rehearsals were due to begin.
Undeterred, the company re-launched its efforts in February with a plan to stage the show at the Ulumbarra Theatre in July. In April, the cast and crew were buoyed by a visit from Ben Elton, who wrote the show in the early 2000s.
In the lead up, rehearsals were limited to groups of 10 and questions lingered over crowd capacities for the 1000-seat theatre.
Days out from the premiere, the show was classed as a Tier 3 event which allowed for just under 500 people to attend each performance.
Performers put on a stellar show that resembled a rock concert in parts. They were rewarded with a sold out season and 13 nominations at this year's Music Theatre Guild of Victoria awards.
While BTC's was the biggest Bendigo show to find its way to the stage in 2021, other companies also made the return.
Among them were Synchronicity who presented Go Back For Murder and Nexus Bendigo Youth Theatre's Oliver, whose season was cancelled when a lockdown was announced with just a few hours notice.
The young cast managed a small performance of Oliver for families of the cast.
Gallery finds success with fashion, unveils Elvis exhibition and has plans approved
The Bendigo Art Gallery was another arts organisation who was able to have a successful year despite the challenges of coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions.
Off the back of that, director Jess Bridgfoot announced the gallery's next major international exhibition will be Elvis: Direct From Graceland.
The show will include more than 300 of Elvis Presley's possessions and has been in the works with the Graceland Estate for almost two years.
In October, it was announced the City of Greater Bendigo council had approved plans for a $28 million development of the art gallery that will increase the gallery's footprint by up to 800 square-metres.
The gallery found further success this year with the Bendigo Art Gallery's own exhibition - Piinpi - opening at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
Piinpi is also set to visit France and go on display during the 2022 Paris Fashion Week.
Bendigo couple tie the knot after postponing four times
COVID-19 couldn't stop Georgey Henshall and Jack Bowyer marrying.
The couple got engaged in New York in 2019 and planned to marry in Italy in September, 2020.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, they postponed their date by a year - planning their Italian wedding in September, 2021.
International travel wouldn't resume in time, forcing Georgey and Jack to rescheduled June 11 in Melbourne before it was pushed to July 24 and finally August 14.
Melbourne remained locked down three days out from their wedding and they scrambled to make it a regional wedding.
Their love conquered COVID and they couple were happily married in Daylesford on August 14.
Motor-neurone disease doesn't stop Steve's passion project
For years, Steve Lummis has had a passion for cars and engines.
Steve was diagnosed with motor-neurone disease six years ago and has been passing his skills in car restoration on to his carer John Heizer.
He can't do the physical work and despite having limited speech, Steve manages to instruct John - a relative newbie to car restoration - in what he wants done to his 1976 Mazda RX4 sedan.
Their relationship has flourished during the project, which shows no signs of slowing down.
Jennifer's hobby turns into a profession at age 81
Across Victoria people turned to home projects and hobbies as a way to distract themselves from the long lockdowns that the pandemic brought.
Jennifer Davey had been an amateur artist for years but honed her skills so much during COVID restrictions that she turned profession at the age of 81.
When asked why she started taking her art more seriously in her 80s, Jennifer said she had simply thought "if not now, then when?"
"I can't remember when the exact point was but more and more I was sure this was my moment and I could take it now," she said.
Art clearly runs in the family with Jennifer's sister being renowned Bendigo artist Ruth Ellis Davey who passed away in 2020.
In November, her efforts culminated in her first exhibition with more than 50 of her landscape works going on sale.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Download our app on iOS and Android
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News