Heavenly Beverley : Sharing The Love...Of Our Heavenly Beverley

As we prepare for the East End Gallery's Queen's Birthday (!) Sundowner next Saturday night, I was handed an extraordinary opportunity to Spread the Word about our beloved town. Given that I have the hearing prowess of an elephant, eyes in my ears (the kids genuinely believed this furphy for years) and a nose longer than any politician, I sussed out groups of earnest, interested, albeit bewildered looking student types wandering around town yesterday afternoon with notebooks at the ready...

Naturally, I reeled them all into the Gallery along with their tutors. Oh, happy day! All Masters students, their Mission From God was a project concerning revitalisation within country towns for the country towns. Climbing onto my invisible soapbox, I launched into my own oral thesis of our move to Beverley almost eight years ago, Michael's instant and passionate love affair with the Forbes Building, the thrill and dread of a long-term renovation and the delight we now can share with guests who enter the East End Gallery. We believe we had certainly added to Beverley's rejuvenation over the last few years.

I regaled them with Beverley sights and experiences that were on offer here for residents and visitors. The Station Arts Gallery and Platform Theatre just over the railway line from us. Quirky little shops such as Alex's Green Corner, Wares West and Suzie's Marketplace, All Things Beautiful. Lucky Find, Unique State, U Beauty Country and Nourishabley.

Plus, we are very fortunate to have the Beverley Bakery, Hotel Beverley, Red Vault and Country Kitchen for food options with the Freemasons' Tavern currently being refurbished. Accommodation options nearby include the fabulous Beverley B&B, Hotel Beverley, Lavendale Farm Cottages, She-Oaks B&B, Beverley Caravan Park, forty-eight-hour river camping and coming soon, our very own guest suite named Station Studio.

What else? The new Cornerstone Building has been built in a sympathetic Art Deco style to compliment the Town Hall, oodles of beautiful Heritage Buildings, Avondale Farm (which is now owned by the National Trust) open twice a month, County Peak (otherwise known as Quajabin) with three hundred and sixty degree views from the summit, Yenyening Lakes (part of the vast Swan-Avon catchment) and the second biggest gliding club in the world - Beverley Soaring Society.

Also with a fantastic new resource in the form of a tourist information book, (Be Very Beverley), we have our Tourism Officer to the Stars, Jacinta Murray, who works two days a week looking for every opportunity to promote our town. The Beverley CRC team currently offer tourism information during the week and I love my unofficial position as Beverley Tourism Central on the weekends. They all, like us, think that Beverley is the best-kept secret location in the Central Wheatbelt. Yes alright, I am bragging just a bit!

As far as events go, we have plenty of wonderful options spread over the year. The Platform Theatre is starting its busy schedule of performances through to autumn, Artists-In-Residence are fabulous additions to the Station Arts Gallery year round.

We are less than a month away from the Beverley Heroic, now in its fifth years on the weekend of 13/14 October. For anybody unfamiliar with the Heroic, the is an entire weekend of bicycles - vintage bikes, shenanigans on bikes, town rides, serious rides to York and Northam, bike displays and of course, prizes ranging from Best Team to Best Moustache. All orchestrated by the amazing Toby Hodgson, who turned an extinct bike race known as "The Beverley" into a fun-filled two day festival of any things self-propelled on two wheels. And look out for the Penny Farthing! Last year, the Penny Farthing found a temporary home inside the East End Gallery.

If all who would care to book the Easter Art Prize into their calendars, now is the time to prepare. This is an Easter extravaganza every year which incorporates a wonderful art exhibition, markets, live music, the annual tennis tournament, performances - literally activities for the entire family. Don't miss the Easter weekend in Beverley.

And for a lazy Saturday or Sunday drive, come out to see all Beverley has to offer, including the beautiful West Talbot Road and the Wandoo National Park. Enjoy a meal at the cafes or hotels. And take some time to be entertained and delighted in the East End Gallery. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.

As for our next Sundowner on Saturday 22 September, we have confirmed live music, seventy artists' works on display, a fabulous venue, a sausage sizzle, nibbles and drinks and a chance to view the Gallery in all her glory well into the night. *The weather is looking promising as well*. Just don't repeat that out loud.

Looking forward to meeting new guests and welcoming old friends. Did I mention we love Beverley?!