Written By David Gomez
KERWOOD - Families from across the area turned out in strong numbers March 28 as the Optimist Club of Kerwood-Adelaide-Metcalfe hosted its annual Hoppy Easter Event followed by the second edition of Meet the Machines.
Held first at Optimist Hall and later at the Parrish and Heimbecker site in Kerwood, the back-to-back events combined children’s activities, community outreach and hands-on access to large equipment and emergency vehicles.
“Both events went well overall and we were happy with the weather although a bit warmer would have been nice,” organizer Nicky Bolton said on behalf of the club.
The morning Hoppy Easter Event welcomed approximately 75 children, with many families continuing on to the afternoon machinery display. Others joined later for Meet the Machines, creating a steady turnout through the day.
According to the club, the Easter egg hunts and craft stations remained popular features of the morning program. In the afternoon, families gathered among rows of fire trucks, transport rigs, farm equipment and heavy machinery parked across the industrial yard.
“The fire trucks and BBQ are usually the main attractions at Meet the Machines,” Nicky said.
“Free Family Events is a major part of what the Optimist Club of Kerwood-Adelaide-Metcalfe wants to give back to the community,” Nicky added. “It is why we run these events, soccer, Sports Day, and more.”
While the Hoppy Easter Event has been running for several years, Meet the Machines is newer. This year marked only the second edition.
The organization also credited volunteers and local partners for helping make the day possible. The Easter event was staffed by Optimist members and youth from the new Sydenham Valley Junior Optimist Club, while additional members handled setup, teardown and the barbecue later in the day.
Upcoming Optimist Club activities include a bottle drive on April 25, followed by its annual ball tournament in June and Sports Day and Chicken BBQ in July.
