The celebratory year of events marking life in and around Woodbridge concluded earlier this month with a community photograph by the water’s edge at Silverwater Park.
During the past 12 months, 11 events have been staged ranging from performances of the play Lily at the school, to the use of the village buildings as a stage for residents past and present to tell their Stories of Woodbridge and the natural beauty of the district shown off at its best via visits to the Gardens of Woodbridge weekend.
It hasn’t been without its challenges as the spectre of COVID inevitably hovered over the early events.
Yet the staging of Woodbridge Life 2022 has served to remind residents and visitors alike of the district’s long history coupled with its natural charm and beauty, factors which continue to attract people to live or visit regularly.
The celebratory year generated a number of very positive outcomes.
It has seen the birth of the local theatre group WATCH.
With the sell-out success of their first play (Lily), they are now planning a new production for next year.
The flood of stories supplied by residents’ research and recollections for the Stories of Woodbridge are to be collated and published in book form.
Buoyed by the responses to the Woodbridge Water Fest and Gardens of Woodbridge, coordinators Ann Dechaineaux and Jo Dixon have indicated that these two events are quite likely to be held on an irregular basis in the future.
As a finale to the year, the community enjoyed the annual Christmas BBQ at West Winds Community Centre.