2009 - A VERY HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY
Back in March this year it was still uncertain whether we would be able to hold our 20th Anniversary Festival, with funding from Arts NSW having been declined. However, local generosity prevailed, when the Arts and Cultural Committee and Bellingen Shire Council agreed to donate $5,000, then Ralph and Serena Lynch of Bellingen IGA and Jetty Coffs Harbour IGA stepped forward with further sponsorship of $10,000. We could hold the Festival!
Then Arts NSW reversed their decision, plus Planet Lighting sponsored a Street Party for the town to celebrate the 20th Anniversary in the style of 1994, and we were planning the best Festival EVER!
With the amazing musical line-up, stunning weather and the huge crowds this year, it really was a wonderful celebration. There was so much going on that no-one could get to everything and there were so many highlights…
The ever popular starting point for the weekend – the Jazz Breakfast in the Council Grounds. What a beautiful location, with the sun streaming through the trees and toe-tapping music warming everyone up.
Then Friday lunchtime at the Golf Club, where the music of the Boswell Sisters was brought to life by the Swing Sisters, supported by Brett and the Knighthawks.
The Welcome Party was well attended as ever, with free-flowing chat and entertainment from George Washingmachine and Monica Trapaga.
The town was really buzzing on Saturday, with music in so many venues, and the usual influx for the Bellingen Community Markets, with the August market being one of the largest of the year. Then of course, the STREET PARTY...
It was amazing when the road first closed to traffic, no cars were parked and people started strolling around the middle of the street, and kids rolling on the centre line. Quite surreal. Then the sun dropped, the crowds built and the music started – what a great vibe and a real family event with people of all ages. Everyone was smiling and friendly and just enjoying the great music on both stages, and the novelty of a traffic-free main street. The Street Party had the biggest turnout of the Festival Weekend, with estimates varying from a conservative 3,000, to a potentially overblown 5,000!
Jazz by the River at Jarrett Park was moved slightly west due to flood damage to the park proper. And many thought it was a move for the better – slopes in all the right directions to get a good view, excellent acoustics and higher above the river, so you could see it! Add to that the five wonderful bands that played and the audience had a Jazz and Blues experience to remember.
And so many memorable musical performances at venues all through town. It was wonderful to have all three churches ringing with music this year, as well as our regulars – Federal Hotel, Bellingen Community Markets, Bellingen Golf Club, Diggers Tavern, Memorial Hall, Heritage Music and Old Butter Factory - with Lodge 241 Café and Bellingen Bowling Club returning as venues after several years away and Dorrigo Bowling Club joining the Festival as a new venue. There truly was ‘something for everyone’, and a taste of some of the best bits of Festivals past.
What a great team of volunteers we had this year! We were swamped with volunteers from early on, and had everyone signed up more than a month before the Festival. As requested by our 2008 volunteers we held the Volunteer’s Party before the Festival, so they could get to know who they’d be spending the weekend with. With entertainment from many local musicians, we had a great night at the Showground on 31st July. Without our committee and committed volunteers we could never hold the Festival – thank you all!
And thankyou so much to all our sponsors, without whom we literally would not have had a Festival this year. Particularly Brett Iggulden of Planet Lighting, Ralph and Serena Lynch of Bellingen IGA and Jetty Coffs Harbour IGA, Arts NSW and Bellingen Shire Council’s Arts and Cultural Committee. Plus all businesses who supported the Festival by donating to the Raffle and advertising in the Program.
