Unique Wombat Festival to be held in Central Queensland
This is the first year the Clermont Wombat Festival has been held and events will also take place at the Moranbah Arts Centre. Here’s what you can see and do.
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Did you know that the northern hairy-nosed wombat’s poos are square and that the baby wombats face backwards in the pouch so that they don’t get dirt in their eyes when their mother digs?
These are just some of the facts that you could learn when you visit the Clermont Wombat Festival which begins on Friday, May 7, and ends on Sunday, May 15.
The festival, which is organised by Clermont Artslink, will be raising awareness of the northern hairy-nosed wombat and proceeds from the event will be going to The Wombat Foundation.
The northern hairy-nosed wombat lives in only two places in Queensland - Epping Forest National Park and Richard Underwood Nature, which is near St George.
The Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science found that as of May last year, the population of northern hairy-nosed wombats was about 315.
When it was recorded in the early 1980s, there were only 35 northern hairy-nosed wombats.
This is the first year of the Clermont Wombat Festival and events will also take place at the Moranbah Arts Centre.
Treasurer of Clermont Artslink, Tania Gillies, said that Clermont deserved to be recognised across the country.
“Clermont’s sort of known as one of the last areas that has the northern hairy-nosed wombat and it makes us a bit unique,” she said.
“I think we were looking at a festival or something where we can maybe put Clermont on the map a little bit.
“Something different, something unique to us that we can celebrate.
“And also get some more greater awareness of what’s actually going on with the wombat, adding to that the fundraising.
“We have about 40 donated hand-made wombats with all proceeds going to The Wombat Foundation.”
EVENTS:
Saturday, May 7:
- In Moranbah there will be a resin wombat board making course.
- In Clermont at the BA Hall is the course of making wombats out of wire with Milynda Rogers the sculptor.
Tickets for Whimsical Wombats Wire Workshops are $165 per person.
Sunday, May 8:
- There is a wombat activity morning and a movie night starts at 6pm.
Wednesday, May 11:
- This is Wear your Whiskers Day to celebrate Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat Day.
Friday, May 13:
- There is a movie night starting at 6pm.
Saturday, May 14:
- There is a chalk art workshop.
- The Wombats under the stars and art show opening begins at 5.30pm and includes dinner and cocktails. Tickets for this event are $125 per person.
Sunday, May 15:
- The wombat markets and art show goes from 9am to 2.30pm.
OTHER EVENTS:
Experts on the Northern Hairy Nosed wombats will be visiting some of the local schools and talking to the children about the wombats.
There will also be a raffle and book reading with Jackie French.
Special guest of the festival, artist, Jimmi Buscombe, has created a painting of a northern hairy-nosed wombat and the public can suggest names for him on the Wombat Festival Facebook page.
More information can be found on the Wombat Festival Facebook page.
Tickets for the Whimsical Wire Wombat Workshop with Milynda Rogers can be found at the Eventbrite website.
Wombats under the Stars tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite website.
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