GOING SILLY FOR GOOD

https://www.examiner.com.au/story/3098894/go-silly-for-good-cause/

CREATING the world’s smallest Little Lawn was Launceston’s introduction to World SILLYWeek. ........................ The Little Lawn sprang up in 2002. Two years later Launceston claimed the longest park bench, located in the City Park. ........................ After an 11-year hiatus, Trevallyn arts advocate Ray Norman and others are keen to revive SILLYweek, starting on June 19. ........................ Held elsewhere in the world as part of solstice celebrations, SILLYweek is a ‘‘DIY festival of sanctioned wacky antics’’ with roots in the European silly season from November 11 to Ash Wednesday. ........................ In Europe, SILLYweek usually involves 11 days of events, with each day attributed to a particular theme and each event offering fund-raising for charity. ........................ Already Mr Norman has approached some Launceston restaurateurs to consider plating up possum under quirky dish titles, a Yolko O-no! egg-dropping challenge is under consideration in the CBD, and an artistic interpretation of the Air Force tradition of burning pianos has been mooted. ........................ ‘‘We’ve decided to have a POSSUMday because it is silly-ish and a lot of people don’t fancy the idea of eating possum,’’ he said. ‘‘........................Possum has all kinds of baggage – they get in our ceilings, they eat fruit off our trees – and when I’ve suggested the possibility of eating possum to friends, they’ve said they’d pay good dollars not to eat possum. ........................ ‘‘That settled it. We have to have POSSUMday.’’ ........................ Mr Norman is encouraging community groups to get involved. ........................ ‘‘SILLYweek at heart, though, is all about fund-raising for charity,’’ he said. ........................ ‘‘If an activity or idea sounds wacky, then it suits SILLYweek, with the ultimate aim being to support the community in some way. In no way is it meant to hurt or deride.’’ ........................ Back in 2002, the Little Lawn was unveiled by then-mayor Janie Dickenson as the city’s ‘‘littlest lawn with big possibilities’’. Believed to be the smallest patch of manicured lawn in the world, it was sown into a foot-square patch on the corner of George, York and Earl streets. ........................ Almost before the first blade of grass could break through, the Little Lawn became a bone of contention and it was eventually uprooted.