THE Wembley Downs District Fair has come a long way from a modest eight stalls in 1968 to almost 100 this year for its 50th, and Laurie Leckie has been there through all of it.
Mr Leckie has had a hand in organising the annual event, which was launched by Wembley Downs Progress Association but taken over by the Scouts, every year.
“The first fair was organised by the Wembley Downs Progress Association but after five years they folded up. The fair would have dissolved if it weren’t for the Scout group,” he said.
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READ NOW“It folded up because the school, where it was held, wouldn’t let us use the toilets any more for the fair, so we moved it.”
He said a morning tea fundraiser was held in the first year, which brought in about $80.
Mr Leckie said he continued to be involved in the fair for “the fun of it”.
Fair committee chairman John Noakes said the sense of community had remained and was what kept the fair going strong.
“Most of the land in this suburb was released in 1968 and a lot of young couples came, the children emerged and the scout group fulfilled a need and that introduced a lot of the adults to each other,” he said.
“We’ve noticed over the years less people volunteering though; people now have to work two jobs to pay off the huge home loans.”
The fair will be held on October 28 at Luita Street Reserve from 8.30am to 3pm.
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