By Bridie Byrne
AFTER 26 colourful years Heather Marcus will hang up her well worn Weerama Festival Committee robes.
She said, despite the tough choice, there would be no tears when the festival was done and dusted for another year.
“It’s a good idea to move on because I have done as much as I can,” Ms Marcus said.
“This has been a fantastic period of my life and the highlight has been working with the top entertainers in Melbourne.”
The festival coordinator has seen the turnout blossom from 2000 to more than 50,000 wide-eyed festival goers.
“I didn’t just want it to be a street festival, as I wanted to bring all the residents together,” she said.
“From the school concerts, children’s picnic and art projects, it attracts every single citizen to be part of Weerama.”
Her two sons and two grandchildren have also joined in the fun over the years.
Ms Marcus used her position to help start an array of competitions, including the VicUrban Recycled Art Project, Werribee Plaza Star Young Idol Competition, Ted’s Camera Store Photographic Competition and the Weerama Sustainable Gardening Awards.
But it has not always been smooth sailing for the hard taskmaster, as economic hardships caused major headaches.
“We had some tough times in the early 90s, and this year it has certainly been a big challenge with the crisis,” Ms Marcus said. “But the sponsors recognise it is worth being involved. It would be great to see it continue to grow but not to lose its format and go in a different direction.”
Ms Marcus’s love of art began at an early age.
“I was a pianist and was invited to play duets across the countryside,” she said.
“It was the grounding to make me want to become an event co-ordinator.”
From her earlier Weerama days in 1983 she began to climb the ranks from member, sponsorship co-ordinator, artistic director to chairman.
“It’s stressful and a big commitment but its worth every little hour you put in,” Ms Marcus said.
“It will be sad to say goodbye but I have other great plans.”
Her involvement will continue to span the Fashion Awards Australia, the Victoria Dancesport Championships, starting a Young Idol Competition and Wyndham Dancing with the Stars.
“Although its goodbye to Weerama its not goodbye to the city of Wyndham,” she said.
