Backed by some awesome weather (finally), the events around the region certainly benefitted as families made the most of the holiday period.

The Easter Family Fun Day at the Wollongong Botanic Gardens was a perfect case in point.

The day was organised by the Wollongong Botanic Gardens and the Rotary Club of Wollongong.

It was the first time it had been held and was designed along the lines of the picnic days of old where it was free and kids could partake in lots of different activities.

There were sack races, egg and spoon races, three-legged races and most importantly, Easter egg hunts.

Families came in their droves.

Thousands enjoyed the day and exhausted supplies of sausage sandwiches not only once, but on three occasions.

It was certainly an event which Illawarra families warmed to and will flourish into the future if the first event is anything to go by.

The people who stayed at home over the holiday period and didn’t join the endless queues on the motorway south were certainly rewarded.

There were some fantastic events.

The first ever beer and barbecue festival, Crafted, saw strong attendances across both days.

The Mustang Owners Association of Australia is also reporting it had an estimated 10,000 people attend it’s show-n-shine event at Lang Park on Sunday.

One fantastic Easter weekend indeed.

Few pundits would have had the St George Illawarra Dragons sitting on top of the ladder after seven games of the NRL season.

Most would have tipped the Dragons to be somewhere near the bottom.

Yet, as it stands, the Dragons are 6-1 and just ahead of the Melbourne Storm in the standings.

It’s a remarkable turnaround by coach Paul McGregor and his troops, who have stunned all with their attacking and enjoyable brand of play.

That style went missing in the second half on Saturday night against the Cowboys.

It will be a timely reminder for the Dragons ahead of the Anzac Day clash against the Roosters that you simply just can not take your foot off the pedal.