Daryl Manks, pictured with Tom Klein and Val Bucknell (nee Manks) at the Clyde School’s centenary celebration last year, will lead a historical walk around Clyde township this Saturday at a special picnic for past and present residents. clydepicnic2: The Clyde picnic will be held at the Public Hall and the park area opposite this Saturday.By Bridget Cook
FORMER Clyde residents will host a picnic this weekend to celebrate “Clyde as they know it” before large housing developments change the small country town forever.
With the Clyde area zoned for urban growth, former Clyde resident Joan Vanderhorn, with the help of her old neighbour, Laura Tillyer, have organised a picnic for Saturday 19 November for past and present residents to celebrate the town’s history and what it is today.
Ms Vanderhorn said the idea for the picnic started last year at the centenary celebration of the Clyde School, when many former students attended the reunion.
“The Clyde picnic idea was sparked off by a good primary school reunion last year and the soon disappearing of Clyde as we know it,” she said.
“My former Clyde neighbour and I got together recently and decided to go ahead with the picnic.”
She said they wanted to hold the picnic for a number of reasons.
“I expect many will say how grateful they are for having known and lived in a rural community and how sad it will be to see that disappear in our time,” she said.
“Let’s all get together be fore Clyde, as we know, vanishes.
“I hope that the picnic will also refresh relationships, give a reason to pause and reflect on life’s issues, as well as provide photos, stories and facts for the Clyde History website.”
Ms Vanderhorn is the co-editor of the Clyde history website along with her brother John Campbell – the author of the first book on the history of Clyde.
Mr Campbell, along with Daryl Manks, who is a descendant of William Manks, one of Clyde’s pioneers, will lead a guided walking tour and bicycle tour around the Clyde township to share some of their knowledge of the town’s history.
Ms Vanderhorn said people were encouraged to bring along, not only food and equipment for the picnic, but also old photos and memorabilia and written stories for the Clyde History website.
The picnic will be held at the Clyde Hall and the park area opposite on Railway Road, Clyde, from 10am to 4pm.
For more information, email clydehistory@gmail.com or visit www.clydehistory.comyr.com
