We Won! (Again!)

…and now we’re off to Canberra

The Australian Wooden Boat Festival took away the Gold in the Major Events and Festivals category at this year’s Tasmanian Tourism Awards. Outgoing General Manager Paul Cullen and Chairman Steve Knight were called to the stage to accept the award by Matthew Richardson, who described the event as ‘very Tasmanian’.

It certainly is a good-looking plaque and will take pride of place on our office wall, which is about ready to collapse under the weight of all these accolades!

So, in early March we are setting sail (flying, actually) to Canberra to throw our hat into the ring for the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. Last time the Festival was shortlisted was in 2015, where we got the bronze, pipped at the post by two small festivals on the north island you may have heard of: The Melbourne Cup and ACT’s own Floriade. This time we’re hoping for gold! What a fantastic parting gift that would be to Mr. Paul Cullen, after 8 years at the helm.

The fact that we can compete on a national stage against such titans of the events industry is a testament to the passion and community spirit that brings our festival together – it really is ‘very Tasmanian’, and this award is for all of us. We should be proud.

— Paul Stephanus