There will be no shortage of events to celebrate Tamworth’s Bicentenary with plans in place for a John Oxley reenactment walk, a school poetry competition, a celebration day and historical exhibitions.
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Event organiser, Mike Cashman, said plans to celebrate Tamworth's 200th birthday on September 2 came to fruition in 2016 within the Tamworth Historical Society.
“Based initially on John Oxley's first European arrival in the Peel Valley, the historical aspect has taken a back seat to that of bringing the local community together to celebrate all that Tamworth has to offer - the many attributes of this fine inland city,” said Mr Cashman.
“As small as Tamworth was in 1918, the local community came together then for a significant Centenary commemoration, which coincided with the placement of the Oxley's Anchor memorial on Manilla Road,” he said.
Mr Cashman said the Tamworth Bicentenary Group was formed to organise events, with a 2018 commemorative souvenir calendar being the first major project completed.
“Community groups were canvassed to have their events included on the calendar, with a lot of the town's history being incorporated,” Mr Cashman said.
“We have printed 400 and they have sold very well.
“We also organised a unique 24-hour cricket-a-thon on number one oval which took place earlier in the year and involved a wide range of the local cricket community, from young Milo cricketers to aging veterans.”
Activities gathered momentum this month, with the launch of a Tamworth-themed schools poetry competition, involving 35 primary and secondary schools.
The Tamworth from Past to Present exhibition in the foyer of Ray Walsh House, was also recently opened.
The culmination of the Bicentenary activities will be on Sunday, September 2, with the eight kilometre John Oxley Reenactment Walk, commencing at Winton at 10am and finishing at the Peel River.
A Celebration Day will be held on the same day, commencing at 9am at Bicentennial Park and going through until 4.30pm.
An extensive program on the day will include a school march, a recognition segment, a wide range of entertainment, plus involvement by a lot of Tamworth community groups.
“Everyone loves a birthday,” said Mr Cashman.
“Even towns have birthdays and our bicentenary is a great opportunity for Tamworthians to come together to celebrate the positive aspects of this great city. With a diverse program of entertainment there is much to get excited about.”
