Thank you to everyone who came to our AGM tonight. Special thanks to Cr Jason Bartels for chairing our AGM and being our Guest Speaker.
We were excited to have our new Management Committee endorsed, including new committee member Tanya Watson. (Lynda Michel and Roma Williams were not able to attend).
Here is the President’s Report. Grab a coffee, sit down and relax and see what Moore Park Beach Art Inc got up to in 2024.
Moore Park Beach Arts Inc President’s Report 2025 (Trish Mears)
It is a great honour to present this report on Moore Park Beach Arts Inc’s activities for 2024.
The year got off to a great start when we were awarded Community Event of the Year at the Bundaberg Region Australia Day Awards in January 2024.
It was a testament to the hard work and community spirit of so many – the committee, our volunteers, community groups, the artists who take part, the entertainers, stall holders, vendors and, of course, sponsors and supporters; and everyone who attends.
The Arts Festival itself was a fabulous event and one of our best attended.
The Moore Park Beach Art Awards continue to be the lynchpin of the Festival. Entries increased again, with 314 entries. We were particularly pleased with the huge number of entries in our Junior Categories, due in no small part to our Art Awards Coordinator Jess Newitt’s promotion to schools around the region.
The Junior Launch on the Friday was huge! Once again, Music Teacher Kathy Cavanagh took on the massive logistical exercise of coordinating the Combined Choir – made up of 179 students from Moore Park Beach, Woongarra, Walkervale, Burnett Heads, Sharon and Kalkie State Schools. With school bands, choirs and the announcement of the Schools Art Competition sponsored by Moore Park Beach Pharmacy, it was a special start to the Arts Festival, officially opened by Cr Jason Bartels. If you haven’t been before, I urge you to attend.
Our Festival Markets and Food Vendors continue to be a huge part of the appeal of our Arts Festival, with over 100 market stalls and 20 food vendors.
Performing arts were also highlighted, with top quality local entertainment on the stage from 10am until 8pm. We are proud of the young talent we have been able to showcase on the stage, who have gone on to perform around the region. In fact, last year’s Headline Act Keely Ellen has gone on to get a Golden Ticket on Australian Idol. We are all eagerly cheering her on, but hope she still has time in her ever-growing schedule to be part of this year’s Arts Festival.
We were delighted with the sponsorship from local businesses, regional businesses and Bundaberg Regional Council and the support of the many community organisations and community members in our vibrant community.
I would like to give a special mention to Charles and Ruth Nemeth from Beachside Moore Park Real Estate, long-term supporters of the Arts Festival, who have recently sold the business. We will certainly miss their support, but hope they can still come along and enjoy the festivities. And a special mention to the Moore Park Beach Community Association, who really stepped up their support and sponsorship last year.
The other major event we helped organise was A Moore Park Beach Christmas – Carols and Markets on Sunday 15th December, in collaboration with Moore Park Beach Community Association.
The weather was certainly against us, with steady rain all day. Thankfully, we have this incredible facility, so were able to bring the entertainment inside. Some stalls and food vendors braved the weather and we thank them for their perseverance. Battery World still came along with their free candles, and, of course, Santa still made his appearance,
thanks to the Moore Park Beach Rural Fire Brigade.
It was a special night and, as some said, was made even more special as it was mainly locals who braved the weather, with an intimate atmosphere, full of Christmas spirit.
Our next challenge was to create an event that the stall holders booked in to our Christmas event could still come to, so have come up with Easter Sunday Markets. We hope you can all make it along, support our market stallholders and food vendors, enjoy the sand modelling, the scavenger hunt, buy some raffle tickets and encourage the little ones to make an Easter Bonnet.
I would like to thank our committee and show my heartfelt appreciation to those who aren’t continuing – Kylie, Kris, Jess and Angela. Thank you so much for all your hard work and commitment.
We are looking forward to welcoming new committee members to join what is undoubtedly one of the hardest working committees I have ever worked with. We recently put out an EOI and were overwhelmed with the response. It is so heartening that so many people appreciate what we do and want to join us in our mission to foster art and a sense of community in Moore Park Beach.
There is so much talent, experience and enthusiasm on our incoming committee. Our graphic art whiz and Volunteer Coordinator Cristel Simmonds, continues as Vice President; our Secretary and Markets Coordinator Supremo Vicki Goede; and Catering marvel Cheryl Parton are all continuing on this year, along with our wonderful Treasurer Shanelle Pekin, who stepped into the beach last year.
They will be joined by some wonderful new and energetic members:
Tanya Watson, Lynda Michel and Roma Williams.
Can we give all these champions a huge round of applause please.
It is a government requirement that our organisation declares any remuneration paid or benefits given to our members. Moore Park Beach Arts Inc did not provide remuneration or benefits of any kind to its members in 2024.
I would also like to tha
nk our local Councillor Cr Jason Bartels, for his ongoing support, as well as the Arts Portfolio Spokesperson, Cr John Learmonth; and all who support us at Bundaberg Regional Council; the artists who support our events, our many sponsors, vendors and stall holders, entertainers, suppliers and, especially the people of Moore Park Beach and beyond who support our events enthusiastically.
Special thanks to the many local community organisations who lend their support, such as the Moore Park Beach Community Association, Moore Park Beach Scouts, the Pink House, Kids n Co, Men’s Shed and many more.
This year is going to be such an exciting year for us as we take on the new Arts Annexe. We are busy organising the fitout, thanks to Grants from the Community Association, Lackon and FRRR Nutrien.
It’s going to be a wonderful space to run art workshops and other events. Please keep us in mind if you are ever looking for a smaller space to hold your event or workshop.
We look forward to another big year in 2025 and hope you can support us – by following us on social media and sharing our posts, spreading the word on what we do and by getting involved and attending our events.
Thank you.
