April 2004

Young and old head down to the farm

By Zoe Naughten

The Victorian Seniors Festival headed for the Collingwood Children’s Farm where children, parents and grandparents had the chance to get up close and personal with well-fed and happy pigs, horses, chickens and ducks and enjoy local produce at the Farmer’s Market stalls lining the Yarra.

On the Festival patch, the Lort Smith Animal Hospital provided a petting zoo that included goats and hamsters and children and adults alike enjoyed pony rides and tractor and foot tours of the farm.

A face painter from Cathy’s Clowns wore her brush down to the bottom of its bristles, turning grandchildren into Spiderman, Batman and Finding Nemo characters, adorning them with butterflies and love-hearts or hiding them under AFL team colours.

The Ragamuffins Bush Band, decked out in red bowler hats, lederhosen and rainbow socks, provided the entertainment and Leaders in Fitness Education (LIFE) encouraged the audience to get moving with some simple and fun moves.

The undisputed hit of the day was the Yap Wear doggy fashion parade.

Seniors were encouraged in a local newspaper promotion of the event to ‘primp your poodle, buff your bulldog and preen your Pekinese.’

Yap Wear founder Jenny Daicos fitted out her four-legged mannequins in functional and purely decorative ensembles including a boxing outfit and faux cow and ocelot jackets.

The ‘dogs in drag’ looked resplendent in frills, flounces and sequins inspired by Moulin Rouge.

Minister for Aged Care Gavin Jennings highlighted the importance of companion animals to the wellbeing of older Victorians.

He entertained the crowd during the parade by questioning owners about the beauty secrets and culinary foibles of their four-legged friends.