Dave Golding, Matt Morris & Iefke Van Gogh.
''We are building this boat, but there are lots of people that have contributed in different ways. Other boat builders drop by to check up. People give us their advice and their experience. It’s just the way the community runs.''
— Matt Morris, Boat Builder
Join our new regular giving program and become a First Mate!
Join Festival First Mates, our essential regular giving program. As a First Mate, you're part of our crew, safeguarding the Australian Wooden Boat Festival's future. A monthly commitment of $10 ensures stability and keeps our festival and wooden boat community thriving.
Donations of $2 or more are now tax deductible.
AWBF is on the Register of Cultural Organisations and endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office for deductible gift recipient status.
First Mates supports:
- The day-to-day running of the Festival; keeping a roof over our head and the bilges clean!
- Engagement with the community through sharing stories, news and updates.
- Positively promoting wooden boats and maritime culture across the seas and on to the next generation.
First Mate acknowledgements:
- Recognition on our website (please let us know if wish to remain anonymous).
- Invitation to a First Mate celebratory event at the Festival.
- A limited edition lapel pin and decal for every biennial Festival you're a member. Collect all Festival pins/decals and wear/stick them with pride! (For pick-up or post during the Festival period).
Why Regular Giving Benefits You:
- Take control of your giving with mindful, strategic donations.
- Ease financial pressure by making small, regular contributions, ensuring ongoing support for the Festival and community.
- Flexibility to choose your monthly donation amount, easily adaptable to your budget.
- Convenient, safe, and secure automated payments simplify your giving process.
- Monthly or annual receipts available; email office@awbf.org.au for donation information anytime.
Why Giving Regularly is Better for Us
- Regular giving provides us with a reliable source of income for effective planning and project commitment.
- Lower admin costs — plain and simple. Automated regular giving means fewer administrative tasks, which saves us money and time, leading to higher productivity in delivering Festival and community projects.
Recognising our First Supporters
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival kindly thanks and proudly recognises our first supporters, who have led the way in building a strong and sustainable future for our wooden boat community.
A big thank you to Lee Astheimer, Brian Canny, John Martin, Michael Fuller, Joanne Garton, Tom Simmat, and Sarah Chandler.