Mark of Yakkerboo

By Melissa Meehan
2011 has marked one of the most successful Yakkerboo Festivals in its history.
Yakkerboo Festival president Graeme Moore said the weekend marked one of the biggest crowds to ever attend the celebrations.
“I really think the steam train coming to town bolstered numbers,” Mr Moore said.
“We had people getting on the train at Narre Warren, getting off at the festival and getting back on later.”
He said Cardinia Primary School was again the lone primary school to take part in the float parade, but said it was one of the biggest and most colourful parades ever.
“Cardinia primary always gets on board despite not actually being a school in Pakenham,” Mr Moore said.
“But I’ve already heard whispers a couple of other schools will join us next year.”
Mr Moore is hoping for an injection of youth into the Yakkerboo committee over the next year.
“We need young people to jump on board,” he said.
“Mr Yakkerboo needs a facelift – as does the committee in some aspects.
“We need the young at heart, mind and spirit to put some life back into the festival as well as keeping the wealth of knowledge of the current committee.”
He said the committee would also look at using social networking sites to attract younger families to the festival.
“This year I noticed the positives of using sites like facebook, and have had a couple of discussions with members of the community – we also want to update our website,” he said.
“If this year is any indication it can only get bigger and better.”