|
Barbara
Fowler initiated the The Bothwell SPINin in
1978. It started out as a small
community event aimed at raising funds for the restoration of
Bothwell's historic St. Luke's Uniting Church. Since then it
has evolved into a significant regional festival and fair that
has drawn many thousands of people to Bothwell over the years.
Many of them traveling from overseas to take part in the event.
In 2001 people from 13 nations participated in the 'blessing
of the fleece' held in the restored St. Luke's. The blessing
launches every SPINin.
The SPINin
is centered in and around the Bothwell District High School.
Evening meals and entertainment are provided for in the Town
Hall and the town's historic Queen's Park. The school's gymnasium
serves as the SPINin's main venue. At various
times during the SPINin there are a range of competitions,
fashion parades, show-and-tell opportunities going on in the
school's precincts and the town.
It has become
a tradition to erect large marquees in the grounds of the school
to display various exhibits and many of the exhibits are offered
for sale. Smaller marquees and tents also serve as work areas
and as venues for demonstrations where visitors are able to
participate in 'hands-on' activities and workshops.
A key feature
of the SPINin is that visitors have an opportunity
to try their hand at spinning, weaving, knitting and much more.
Over the years the range of activities encompassed by the event
has grown significantly. In fact the SPINin has
evolved into a rather unique 'village festival' that
has earned a special place in the Tasmanian imagination.
In 2005
'the festival' won the Art & Culture National Bank
Volunteer Award for Tasmania. In so many ways this underlines
and acknowledges the importance of events such as the SPINin
for not only small communities everywhere but also for the'
community of interest' that has attached itself to this
particular event over almost 30 years.
|
