When you’re standing there waiting for the Festival of Fisher’s Ghost parade to start and you hear your name being called it all becomes a little personal – in a really good way.
“Eric, hi mate, how good is this having the parade back’’ was said to me several times, once or twice from people I haven’t seen for a while.
It brought back memories from the golden years of the parade when it was the heart and soul of the entire festival.
Watching the floats go past was wonderful but so was talking to friends or acquaintances from around the town you hadn’t seen for a bit.
This was how it felt for the 2026 parade, which has been missing in action since 2019.
The vibe last Saturday afternoon was definitely positive, and you could see people who had lined Queen Street were getting a little anxious for the parade to get going.
The kids with their little flags were ready, and just after 2pm Mayor Darcy Lound got proceedings under way after a few words and the cutting of a ribbon.
He was joined by Alan and Rhonda Sloper, who have been involved with the festival for decades. Alan actually attended the very first parade way back in 1956.
The Campbelltown Aboriginal community were the first group to set off, and they boasted a large contingent, including plenty of familiar faces.
Our volunteer services were strongly represented, from SES to the bush fire brigades, as they had been traditionally.
And it was a joy to have classic cars back for the parade, and all with a touch of ghostiness as a tribute to Fred Fisher’s ghost.
Some went to more rouble than others to inject a ghostly theme, but it was ever thus.
The parade route was a little unusual with a northerly direction instead of the traditional march south along Queen Street.
But by the time the parade was fully under way nobody would have given a fig about which was it was going.
This wasn’t just the parade being back – this was the real Campbelltown back on display with all its glorious history and traditions.
There was of course plenty of new faces in our community, including a colourful display by the Pacific communities.
Not too many Samoan or Tongan flags, but they were probably at the footy!
All up, a massive return of the parade, and if Mayor Darcy Lound has his way, it’s just going to get bigger and better.
He was very kind to give the South West Voice a few moments for a quick interview after the parade.
Mayor Lound said he was pretty happy with the parade, overall.
“I loved how the little ones got into it, waving their little flags to show their appreciation of everyone who went past,’’ he said.
“We’ll wait and see the feedback to look how we can make it even better next year.
“But overall, I thought it was a pretty good parade.’’
