By Tanya Steele
A special day was celebrated in Kallista on Saturday 29 March 29th, as the town commemorated the centenary of its name change from South Sassafrass to Kallista – which means Most Beautiful.
The event drew thousands of locals, descendants, volunteers, and visitors from across the region, all coming together to celebrate the town’s rich history.
The celebration highlighted the community’s evolution over the past 100 years and Uncle Murrundindi kicked off the day with a Welcome to Country and Yarning circle.
The area now known as Kallista has been colonised by Europeans since 1893, however South Sassafras was often confused with Sassafras and after years of delivery issues the town decided to change its name.
Saturday saw attendees share memories, reflect on the town’s journey, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. Many people dressed to impress wearing some beautiful period dress outfits. A special ribbon cutting ceremony was held and a fashion show as well.
There were musicians, choirs, crowd entertainers, photobooths, homemade lemonade, car displays and more for people to enjoy and the organisers and volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure the day went smoothly.
As the sun set, photo displays were projected onto the Kallista Mechanics building and the trees were lit up in the dark with celebrations continuing into the night.
