General News
31 October, 2025
Strong support for parish fair
STRONG crowds enjoyed the opportunity to explore the grounds of Camperdown’s Benedictine Abbey last Saturday for the annual Anglican Parishes of Camperdown and Holy Apostles Anglican Parish Fair.
The fair saw many people exploring the abbey grounds for the first time thanks to guided tours on the day, with activities for all ages adding to the experience.
Reverend Matthew Jones said the day was sensational despite the less than ideal weather conditions faced by organisers and attendees.
“The organisers spent a lot of time figuring out where to put the stalls, and the eastern side – facing towards the road and Mount Leura – was a good spot because the wind usually came up from the west from the lake,” he said.
“The wind ended up coming from the east, and it was much colder than we thought.
“We had so many people visiting – lots of people had said they’d never been up here before, so it was really great to be able to welcome people.
“We had lots of different stalls – there was also a fire engine where children could get on and hit a virtual fire with a hose, which was really great fun for the kids.
“They were also flying a drone and taking photos of the whole abbey area, including the lake. It was a really great day.”
A variety of wares were on sale throughout the day, from cakes and bric-a-brac to crafts and plants, with many plants sold over the course of the fair.
A raffle and barbecue were also held on the day, with many appreciating warm food as the weather turned colder than anticipated.
Other activities included workshops with the South West Brick Club and kite crafting – flying kites and remote-controlled airplanes, however, they were grounded due to windy conditions.
“We had beautiful violin music in the church, and we had a guitarist and singer in the corner of the refreshment room performing while people were having morning tea and chatting,” Rev Jones said.
“We also had guided tours around the abbey grounds – people were taken in groups and shown all the different sites around the abbey, including the beautiful drystone wall that wraps around the abbey cemetery, the guest houses, the view over the lake, the connections space which overlooks the lake, and the orchid.
“We were a bit nervous it might rain, but it didn’t.
“The cars kept driving in and people parked – some people parked at the bottom and walked up the roadway, while others drove up.
“So many people came – lots of families – and people came from all different parts of Victoria, which was great.”
Rev Jones extended his gratitude to the community for supporting this year’s fair.
“A special thank you to Sister Raphael Stone for allowing us to organise this event at the abbey and to open it up for people to experience it,” he said.
“I think many people are going to come back for more visits because they were really impressed with it.”
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