THE major event of the year - Whitsunday Reef Festival 2011 10:00am, Mon 24 Oct 2011 The eleventh Whitsunday Reef Festival was held over the 4 days 20-23rd October 2011. Despite some “Belgium summer” skies, the festival registered in excess of 10,000 event attendances across the 4 days. Events ranged from the ticketed comedy, dining and fashion events to free concerts headlined by The Black Sorrows to a huge range of family fun.
Inspired by attendance numbers and sponsor support, the festival is likely to be held on similar dates in 2012. The feedback has been fantastic. Amongst the most heart warming is how spirits have been lifted, particularly by the Rotary street parade and the energy of so many people out and about.
A key enhancement this year was the use of the central Airlie Beach carpark for two concert nights and the carnival rides. Adjacent events bought further focus to the centre of the street, lagoon and beach, including Recyclable Regatta, Family Fun Day, Chill in the park and Wearable Art, very firmly being the festival to both street and foreshore.
The committee focus came to the main street with the extreme enthusiasm supplied by Stacey Harvey, while Secretary Margie Murphy work tirelessly to keep people on track. Committee representation across business and community was key to the success including Jeff Aquilina (chair), Ian Stone (Treasurer), Amanda Hansen (marketing) backed by Steve McDonald, Fluer Stone, Justin Heitman, Clace Bradley, Chanelle Gangemi, Bronwyn Garland, Nina Wilson, Simone Benoite, Chantal Apruzzese, Pam Pole, Jo Paparone, and John Nayler. The year in year out stability of the committee will be reinforced with mooted return of Bec and Ellen Kerr in 2012.
Naturally, any festival with so much diversity can only lead to argument about favoured events, but with out question is role of sponsors. With no “festival” sponsor in 2011, the support from a large number of small sponsors was critical, lead by Porters, Rotary Club of Airlie Beach, Queensland Premiers Department, Whitsunday Regional Council, Telstra Whitsunday and Airlie Beach Hotel just to name a few. Fantastic promotional support was also key in 2011, Sea FM, Whitsunday Times, ChannelWhitsunday.com and Whitsunday Guardian ensured that the festival was well communicated.
We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2012 as Reef Festival provides the ideal reunion for people who itch for a reason to come back to Airlie Beach.
More ...
Courtesy Blue Turtle Digital Courtesy Blue Turtle Digital
Link to this story:
Related Stories and video features
Beach Music Chill in the Park 23 Oct 2011: Sunday afternoon at the beach has never been so “chilled”. Whitsunday Reef Festival wrapped up with a relaxed afternoon under the trees, beside the sea as more 1000 people drifted in to the space around the Beach Music stage and enjoy the various entertainers including “The Twine”, “Cactus”, “Natura ... [more] [more...]
Telstra Whtisunday Family Fun Day 23 Oct 2011: The Telstra Whitsunday Family Fun Day turned out such a great morning for the more that 600 people in attendance. Blue skies started the show, along with some light music including the Prosperine State High School band and the Ukaholics (playing their first gig).
Amongst the trees and beside beac ... [more] [more...]
Consider the Reef Rocked 23 Oct 2011: The Whitsunday Reef Festival reached a crescendo last night with Rockin the Reef bought to you by the Airlie Beach Main Street traders group. Many many sponsors made it possible to entertain an estimated 5000 people over an evening of musical diversity including The Black Sorrows, Paul Green and The ... [more] [more...]
Rotary Club of Airlie Beach Street Parade Mardi-Gras 22 Oct 2011: More that 30 organisations and floats came out to be part of the Rotary Club of Airlie Beach Street Parade. Schools, companies, dance clubs, boat trips and service clubs made an extra effort to support the mardi-gras theme.
Organiser Bronwyn Garland and the Rotary judging panel had the hard job o ... [more] [more...]
ChannelWhitsunday.com Recyclable Regatta reminds and entertains. 22 Oct 2011: Reef protection is a subject close to the hearts of all Whitsunday residents. The ChannelWhitsunday.com Recyclable Regatta is aimed at celebrating and reminding everyone of the importance of this fact.
Featuring 8 rafts for the 2011, the Recyclable Regatta is in its second year and appears to be ... [more] [more...]
Porters Reeffire entertains thousands 21 Oct 2011: The Porters Reeffire lit up the grey evening for the entertainment of so many families and visitors to the Whitsundays on Friday night. Porters generous support of the second year has ensured that the Whitsunday Reef Festival includes the very important signature event that brings so much spectacle ... [more] [more...]
Comedy Gala laughs 20 Oct 2011: 6 years into comedy and Lindsay Webb seems to have no intent to give up. Formally the world record holder for longest comedy act, Lindsay is never short of a word, a razor sharp angle or word of wit. Perhaps this is why he often gets very complimentary requests from politicians and lawyers, keen to ... [more] [more...]
Festival of Food - Palmers Lunch 20 Oct 2011: Palmers Restaurant was the kick off point for the Whitsunday Reef Festival with over 50 people enjoying the fine dining experience at the TAFE training facility. [more...]
Put your company, organisation or group in the street parade! 12 Oct 2011: Businesses, organisations and youth groups, now is the time to get yourself organised to parade at this years Whitsunday Reef Festival Rotary Club of Airlie Beach Street Parade.
Promote your cause, your business or group as fun, personal and interesting by decorating a truck, ute or trailer and ... [more] [more...]
We are all from our own part of the world and go about our lives, this could be said for Paul Greene from Culburra Beach, on the NSW South Coast. Paul Greene's life i ... [more] [more...]
See Airlie Beach from overhead 06 Oct 2011: Helibiz, based at the Whitsunday airport will be operating joy flights in their great R44 Robinson helicopters. These 4 seat flying machines will be circling Airlie Beach, Mandalay Point and around to Canonvale before returning to the Airlie Beach foreshore over the marina for just $50 per person.
... [more] [more...]
WHITSUNDAY REEF FESTIVAL 2011 20 - 23 OCT 24 Sep 2011: The Whitsunday Reef Festival is THE major event for Airlie Beach. Attracting over 10,000 attendees to events in 2010, this year's event will be an even brighter celebration of the North Queensland lifestyle with over 20 diverse events. [more...]
2011 “Mardi Gras” is the theme for Whitsunday Reef Festival 26 Aug 2011: Adding a new dimension to Whitsunday Reef Festival in 2011 is a bigger, brighter and more range of events. Bringing the party back to the main street, Mardi Gras was the obvious theme.
While all the favourites will be there including fireworks, Frocktails, Comedy Gala, Street Parade, there will a ... [more] [more...]
