mmg.com.au

A staggering 1318 people passed through Isobel Harvie’s A Stitch Back in Time exhibition, which closed at Kyabram Community and Learning Centre on Sunday.

Comments written and spoken showed the public’s great interest in collections, and it was clear from the crowds this exhibition could have gone on for longer.

The magnificent sum of $15742 was raised from door takings, the raffle and donations, and all of it will go to Warramunda.

Isobel Harvie, who was a familiar face during the nine days of the exhibition, said she was astounded by the interest it generated.

‘‘I had hoped it would be successful, but never did I think so many people would come from such far away places and have such kind things to say,’’ she said.

Marion Heap and Yvonne Church, who visited the exhibition on Sunday from Cohuna, 1 hours drive from Kyabram, encapsulated the sentiment of many.

‘‘Truly fabulous,’’ said Mrs Heap. ‘‘I think it was even better than the Grace Kelly exhibition in Bendigo.’’

‘‘If it was on longer I’d bring five car loads of my friends to see it,’’ said Mrs Church, who is secretary of Cohuna Historical Society.

Mrs Harvie said she and her husband Keith wished to thank everyone at KCLC for the opportunity, encouragement, help and publicity in staging the exhibition, Jo Breen from Warramunda, the tireless Warramunda Ladies Auxiliary, who provided morning and afternoon tea and manned the door, and assorted helpers who assisted at different times.

She paid special thanks to Cheryl and Barry Prideaux, who have put out a petition for a permanent display base for the collection.

More than 900 names have been signed at KCLC alone.

Feedback indicated a flow-on of visitor spending in local businesses was also evident. Proprietors of several shops and eateries all said their takings were up in the last week.

Rosalie’s Cafe owner Rosalie Munro said it had been a busy week, with many out of town visitors.

‘‘A lot of people were here for the exhibition, plus some for the showground events at the weekend,’’ she said.

All About Shoes owner Sue Finn said she had been getting groups of people in all week.

‘‘We had car loads of people coming in all week from as far as Melbourne and Bendigo,’’ she said.

‘‘The exhibition really gave the town a lift and it would be great for it to be based here permanently.’’

The weekend has regenerated much talk about a permanent arts, crafts, collections and historical sector, the old Town Hall being seen as having great possibilities.

A well-planned, multi-functional refurbishment of the Town Hall could provide such a precinct — a complement to the mixed interests already catered for by the plaza, the fauna park, the showgrounds and various sporting facilities.

Anyone interested in the potential of the Town Hall is welcome to come to the next meeting of the Kyabram Deakin Residents, Ratepayers and Development Group on March 20, at 7.30pm, in the Senior Citizens clubrooms, Lake Rd, Kyabram.