Soldier Settlement celebration postponed

THE Mannibadar Soldier Settlement centenary celebration has been postponed due to Victoria’s COVID-19 spike.

Organisers, including community member Stephen Holding, have decided to move the event to Spring and the week of Remembrance Day, considering this week’s statewide lockdown.

“Even if restrictions are lifted, the likelihood that an event of this size could proceed next weekend is quite low, and our interstate and greater Melbourne ticket holders would potentially be unable to attend anyway,” he said.

“The event was sold out, with people set to attend from Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland, including a significant number from the greater Melbourne area.

“Rather than push the event out to a date in the middle of winter… it is now tentatively planned to be held on Sunday, 14 November between 1pm and 4.30pm at the Mannibadar Hall.”

The 100-year anniversary of the Mannibadar Soldier Settlement was planned for this Sunday, 6 June.

The community celebration would have involved the adult children and descendants of original settlers at the Mannibadar Soldiers’ Memorial Hall.

A large brass plaque was to be unveiled, a cake was to be cut, and historical displays and photographs were to be set up in the Hall.