EVENTS THAT MAKE FREO AND AUSTRALIA SPECIAL

Today is a special day in Australia. It’s AFL Grand Final day. Although I am not a fanatical football or sports fan I always watch the AFL final, as I do the Melbourne Cup horse race and the Boxing Day cricket test match. They are historic and significant days for me where we celebrate Australia.

It made me think of the stand out days in Fremantle for me and I can’t get passed the Blessing of the Fleet as one of my favourites. I used to love St Patricks Day when there was still a parade through Freo, but now it’s only drinking in the pub stuff that does not inspire me much at all.

On the heels of these two events come the Fremantle Festival Parade, The Hulbert Street Sustainability Fiesta, the Easter weekend Street Art Festival and the Wardarnji Aboriginal Festival. All great events that make Freo special, and so is Australia Day and the fireworks over Bathers Beach.

I am also a huge fan of the free Sunday concerts at the Fremantle Art Centre and of the Fremantle Chamber Orchestra Christmas Proms there, as I am of the Indian Food Festival on the Esplanade.

To paraphrase Freo councillor Rachel Pemberton, if you are bored in Freo it means you are not getting out much. Come join the fun, meet new people, be part of your community!

Tomorrow at 10 am is the start of the Gentlemen’s Vintage Bicycle Ride at the Fremantle Art Centre!

Roel Loopers