I’d like you to imagine how switched on I was when I heard about FRESH, which is a brand new festival of events in April.  FRESH combines the traditional Seniors Festival with Youth Week and then increases the offering with a month-long program of talks, workshops and is now designed to appeal to all ages.

I processed that information and then thought great, but what specifically appeals to me? I am a middle aged lady with an interest in creative pursuits and fashion but I don’t enjoy driving. The events that appeal are the three coach trips: to Altina Wildlife Park on Thursday, April 5, the Australian War Memorial on the 12th and I’m very excited about the street art walking tour of Benalla on April 18. Fast becoming recognised as Australia's leading street art destination, Benalla hosts an incredible variety of street art murals. This 4km walking tour around the CBD, will give you an insight into the world of international street art, the artists who created the works and the stories behind them. 

I’m also intrigued about the op shop to runway activities; both the sustainable fashion talk and the walking tour of the op shops with eco stylist Alex Van Os.

Then I applied my selection tool for the rest of my family. Alf, my husband enjoys eating Indian food, no doubt he’ll be keen to attend the Mumbai Street Food Feast, he also enjoys the outdoors so the bird watching activities with Peter Menkhorst are sure to appeal. Peter is the co-author of The Australian Bird Guide and a distinguished ecologist; his insights into local birdlife on the Marrambidya Wetlands Tour will be fascinating.

My daughter is interested in music festivals and her friends; she’s a very fashion forward 19-year-old. I think she would enjoy making cardboard jewellery with Jeff McCann. Jeff’s artwork has been used on the FRESH posters and his jewellery has been worn by Montaigne, it’s striking and different. There are many other creative artistic workshops including printmaking, zine-making and spoon carving. 

The other person who lives at my place is more difficult to please. My son is 13 and addicted to Xbox. If the Snake Sessions with Branch Nebula don’t tease him into the outside world nothing will. Branch Nebula brings their breathtaking anarchic street style performance to Bolton Park Skate Park during the school holidays. Branch Nebula’s team will infiltrate the skate park for the week of April 16 to 21 from 11am to 6pm. Turn up it’s a free all ages event.