I know my 10 years living here does not qualify me as a Braidwoodian, however, I could not love this place more of I were born here. I am proud and privileged to be part of a team - the Braidwood Heritage Society - that commenced mobilising efforts to celebrate Braidwood's 175th birthday in 2014, working together with other community organisations including Braidwood and Villages Tourism, the Braidwood Historical Society and the Braidwood Regional Arts Group. The Heritage Society is keen to work towards making it a truly community event - it is Braidwood that should be proud and celebrate in style that reflects the significance of the birthday; Braidwood should celebrate its heritage and history - the history of places, the people and their contribution and legacy, and Braidwood should show off to the world its achievements, what Braidwood is today and its future.

       Let me use this opportunity to tell you what the Society has done to date and invite you to participate - the opportunities and ways in which you could be a part of next year's celebrations are limitless.

      With thanks to suggestions by Merrie Hamilton and Mary Mathias at the public meeting, and their encouragement and assistance, we are very excited to announce that the Braidwood & Bungendore Community Bank, in response to our plea for assistance, approved $3000 that will help us with organising the events in 2014, especially the ’Braidwood Community Bank Heritage Festival Parade’ on 3 May 2014.

      But there is more: in recognition of the milestone birthday and our region rich in talents, the Bank also accepted our proposal to re-institute and sponsor the Heritage Art Award and generously set the Award prizes - $1500 for an entry by a person under the age of 18 and $3,500 for over 18, with the theme for 2014 in the spirit of "Faces of my Braidwood - my heritage, today, tomorrow". It will be an Award open to permanent residents of Braidwood and Bungendore post codes, curated and awarded by a panel of judges not from within the eligibility area and exhibited at suitable places around Braidwood. Terms and Conditions and the mechanism and practicalities for organising the Heritage Art Prize Award are yet to be finalised with all interested organisations. Once done, it will be available, together with the entry form, on the Heritage Society's web site www.festivalofbraidwood.org.au, on BRAG's websitewww.bragart.com.au and on www.braidwoodnsw.com as well as will be available at the Bank.

      What else we have done? Together with BRAG, we have invited the Governor of NSW to open our Parade and present the Awards; Her Excellency has yet to set her diary for 2014, but we are hoping to be successful. We have met the member for Monaro, Mr John Barilaro who has accepted our invitation to attend events and is supporting our application to receive financial assistance from the NSW Government that would allow us to celebrate with a series of events to mark the year. We have met and are working with Palerang Council regarding managing the events with regard to Council's legal obligations and responsibilities as well as assistance as far as possible.

      We are running a number of fund raiser raffles, the items to date are a week's stay in Byron Bay (thanks to Morna Winter-Irving), a 3 days stay in one of Illawarra's caravan parks (thanks to Adventurous Caravan and Camper Hire www.adventiruouscaravanhire.com.au); dinner or lunch to the value of $200 at the Saffron Mezze House, Kingston (www.saffronrestaurant.com.au) and a framed photograph by Alex Rea from her Braidwood collection.

We are in the process of creating posters, banners, information booklets and an event calendar on our web site. The Bakery is sponsoring a large banner to be displayed in the Bakery.

WHAT EVENTS ARE WE HAVE IN PLANNING?

      The Festival Parade, of course  - while we have not finalised the Parade or explored all the possibilities, we do plan on showcasing Braidwood as many ways as possible including floats, car clubs, rides, running of the sheep dogs, sheep shearing, demonstrations, bands, music, bullock train etc -more ideas are welcome. We are also planning on having a street market - Farmers Market, Made in Braidwood and anything in between, on Wallace Street, from McKellar Street to the Monument, as well as displays, activities and everything for children in Ryrie Park.

      We are planning on having a Foundation Day on 27 April - a Service, a walk to Braidwood Wilson's Grave, laying a commemorative brick path and a Family Picnic in Ryrie park - full details yet to be finalised.

We are planning on a photography exhibition and a show to showcase our history. We are planning on storytelling and film shows and family reunions. We are planning on having a Commemorative Issue of the Braidwood Times.

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE AND WHAT CAN YOU DO?

      Talk to your organisation, family or friends, discuss your participation and let us know - have a float, sponsor a prize - a reward for being the best in a category in the Parade, sell raffle tickets, donate an item for raffle, have a donations box, sponsor a poster, sponsor a display, propose an event or include a Braidwood is 175! event or theme in your regular Braidwood Event and we will include advertising it to the world - an event at the Braidwood Races, special heritage themed events at the Braidwood Show, a special 2014 golf event, an extra special Cricket Day, an extra special Quilt Event, and extra secial BRAG Members' Exhibition and the like. Publish a calendar or a book. Volunteer to help us with organising the Parade. Let us know if you need any assistance with your special event. Tell us what you do and we will include it in the program, publicity and event calendar.

Contact me by email info@braidwoodnsw.com or telephone, or telephone any of the Heritage Society Committee members - Jane Norris at TorPeas, Michelle or Chris at Poppies, Bronwyn Richards at Wynlen House, Yvonne Hopkins or just catch us around town.

Let's do it together!

Judit Kovacs

Vice President, Heritage Society