By REBECCA BILLS
From the idea of an Easter egg hunt for children from around the hills, a full blown Good Friday Carnival in Belgrave has evolved.
This year, Belgrave will play host to the inaugural Belgrave Carnival in support of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
Event organiser, vice-president of the Belgrave Traders Association and Hugs for Kids owner Bek Milikins said she noticed the lack of Easter activities around the hills and wanted to change that.
“The number one reason for organising the event is last Easter Belgrave was really, really busy but there was nothing for the kids to do,” she said.
“Being the owner of the town’s kids’ shop and a mum of two, I thought I was the perfect person to do this.
“There is the Werribee Park Cadbury Easter Egg hunt, but it seemed crazy to me to have to travel so far.”
Ms Milikins said her aim for the event was to keep costs to a minimum so that as much money as possible could be donated to the Good Friday Appeal.
“Each year, the Good Friday Appeal brings together people from all parts of all the community to raise much-needed funds for equipment, research and education to support the work of the Royal Children’s Hospital,” she said.
“We hope this will be the first year of many Belgrave carnivals as we want to show everyone the size of the community spirit that lives in the hills while supporting a cause that has touched so many of us personally.
Ms Milikins said the carnival would feature an amazing array of rides, food stalls, animal displays, face-paintings, music and of course an Easter egg hunt.
“We are still confirming if the real Easter Bunny will be making an appearance,” she said.
The carnival will be held between 10am and 2pm on Good Friday 18 April at St Thomas More Primary School, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave.
All proceeds from the day will be donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
To pre-purchase your tickets for the Belgrave Good Friday Fund-raising Carnival, offer support, sponsorship information or for further information, visit www.belgravecarnival.org or call 9754 1122.
