By ANEEKA SIMONIS
FORTY years on and the Yakkerboo Festival is still going strong in the Pakenham and wider community.
Yakkerboo himself spruced up for the big anniversary event over the weekend, gracing the parade with his fresh, revamped look.
Keeping with the iconic green look, Yakkerboo was admired by some 7500 onlookers who turned out to the Sunday 17 April parade.
He wasn’t the only one drawing the crowd’s gaze.
Colourful floats, many of them decorated to fit the ’70s inspired theme, made their way through town with bustling, excited kids on board.
Pakenham Consolidated School took out the title as the Champion Float, Cardinia Primary School won Best School Float and the Best Kindergarten Float was taken out by Andrews Kindergarten.
Title winners were awarded by independent judges Cardinia shire Mayor Jodie Owen, Citizen of the Year Ron Ingram and Senior Citizen of the Year Peter Maloney.
But Yakkerboo Festival Committee President Michael Porter said the whole day was about having fun, bringing the focus back to tradition, community and family.
“We are sorry we can’t give awards to all the floats. But it’s not about winning awards, it’s about kids having fun on the day,” he said.
A giant cake celebrating the mythical creature’s 40th birthday was cut up and shared among youngsters who were out and about for the annual festival.
As with many years in the past, the cake was donated for Yakkerboo’s birthday by the Great Australian Bakehouse.
It was enjoyed with free icy poles and cordial donated by Woolworths Pakenham.
Mr Porter said approximately 2000 wrist bands were sold to ride-goers who were out for a thrill.
The wrist band entitled owners to unlimited rides throughout the day, while a range of free riders and amusements were also available to the shire’s young ones.
One of the greatest highlights from the 40th anniversary Yakkerboo event was the return of former Yakkerboo Queens and Princesses.
Sitting pretty on the back of trucks, beauty title-holders throughout the decades came back to lap up some of their town fame as they elegantly waved to thousands of festival goers.
Mr Porter said it was a special commemoration of times gone by in the festival’s history.
“It was so nice to have them back for the 40th year,” he said.
The festival began on Saturday night when carnival rides were brought into action for the big annual bonanza.
At 9pm, fireworks were let off – celebrating Yakkerboo’s birthday with a bang.
