Danthonia’s Bruderhof honoured grandparents as well as recent losses to our community over the weekend. The community held a Grandparents Day event on Sunday, in an effort to recognise the contribution our elders make to society.
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It was a day for families, with face painting, a petting zoo and flower garland workshops.
“There was a lot of activity. Most of it geared to little people, even though it was Grandparents Day,” organiser Chris Voll said.
“We had hay rides and bouncy castles, we had a ‘dunk the Pop’, where the unfortunate victim got a bucket of water dumped on their head. Of their own free will, of course!”
Chris said that along with musical performances, everyone found something to do. He said there was something for everyone of every ability.
The day ended with a candle lighting ceremony in remembrance of recent losses to the Inverell and Bruderhof communities, including Simone Mottram and Tim Wiedemann.
“We know it’s been a tough week for many in town,” Chris said. He said that the community particularly wanted to recognise Tim Wiedemann and his family after many of their students grew to love the 17-year-old during his visits to Danthonia over the past month with his classmates from Inverell High School’s Special Education Unit.
“And of course our hearts go out to Simone Mottram and her family,” Chris said. The Inverell community is still reeling from the loss of Simone after she was discovered in her Froude Street home last week. Simone's friend, Kelvin Brown, spoke about Simone and the importance of celebrating her life.
The Bruderhof community were also mourning for the tragic loss two babies of their overseas family members.
“We wanted to share those things with our friends and also carry each other’s burdens. It’s always a help when people can communicate together. If people can share what’s hard for them with each other, then it’s less difficult to carry those things”.
