June 2010

Greatest Assets
Stephen Gregg

Greatest Assets You can tell a whole lot about a city by experiencing its events, says Stephen Gregg, and he would know.

Through a career which has mirrored the growth of Queensland's tourism industry, including stints as CEO of Tourism Queensland between 1996 and 2004, and CEO of Dreamworld and Whitewater World between 2004 and 2008, he has seen a fair few in his time.

"The defining event of my career, and certainly Brisbane's history, was the Commonwealth Games in 1982," says Gregg.

Gregg, who was working in sales and marketing for TAA's coach subsidiary, AAT Coach Holidays, developed the holiday program for the Games and relished the experience of being in the middle of what was (at the time) the biggest tourism event in the country.

"That event gave the city the confidence and impetus to aspire to greater things, and I doubt the World Expo in 1988 would have come to Brisbane if the Commonwealth Games hadn't been a success," he says.

At the helm at the Cairns and Mackay airports since 2009, Gregg is currently involved in 'evolving an event strategy for Cairns and North Queensland which will capitalise on the destination's best attributes - nature and adventure'.

"Events must be as authentic as the destination they take place in," says Gregg.

"The only events that achieve long-term sustainability are those that have a strong connection to the community and culture of their place," he says.

"You will not see a V8 Supercar race in Cairns but for kayaking, mountain biking, indigenous art and dance festivals - this is the place to be."

And his own time-honoured favourites?

The Noosa Festival of Surfing: "This is one I always try to get back to the Sunshine Coast for," the surfer from way back says.

He also speaks with admiration of the 'Noosa Tri': "An amazing signature event for Australia with a remarkably loyal following", and the Woodford Folk Festival: "A rare, smart event which didn't evolve from its destination - it became the destination."

The man who 'grew up' with Queensland's tourism industry sees some great times ahead for the state, particularly for regional events which have the opportunity to grow into major tourism drawcards.

"By focussing on the events we already have at home, such as the ones supported through the Queensland Events Regional Development Program, we end up with events that are non-contestable - they belong to Queensland, to their region, and that is where people will travel to experience them," he says.

Of course, it helps if they fly through the Cairns or Mackay airports on the way.

Celebrate! Events Coming Soon

Celebrate! Events Coming Soon Premier Anna Bligh has officially launched the 2010 Gold Coast Airport Marathon and a new $250,000 tourism marketing campaign to lure more marathon fanatics to the Gold Coast.

Ms Bligh said this year's marathon was on track to be the biggest and best in its 32-year history, with 25,000 people expected to take part.

"From humble beginnings, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon is now Australia's largest marathon and one of the world's premier running events," she said.

"Last year the Gold Coast Airport Marathon attracted 6,731 runners from outside Queensland, including close to 2,000 from overseas which generated 50,000 visitor nights on the coast.

"Already this year, there have been entries from 28 countries and each Australian state and territory.

"The $250,000 tourism campaign will encourage more visitors to stay longer and enjoy everything the Gold Coast and more widely Queensland has to offer."

"It includes a range of initiatives such as partnering with local running clubs, promoting 'all-inclusive' event packages, retail promotions, press and online activity and media familiarisations," Ms Bligh said.

"With the 2018 Commonwealth Games firmly on the radar, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon will showcase the Gold Coast's ability to host major events."

Adding to the Commonwealth Games flavour, Premier Bligh was joined at the launch by the past, present and future of Australian marathon running including 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games marathon gold medallist Rob de Castella, Gold Coast running sensation Michael Shelley who last week was selected in the Australian Team to contest the marathon at this year's Commonwealth Games, and future stars of running from Benowa State School who will be a competitive age by the time of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The growth of the marathon in recent years has made it necessary to become a two-day event, with the Southern Cross University 10km Run and Wheelchair Half Marathon features of the new Saturday program.

Entrants in this year's Gold Coast Airport Marathon can also support the official charity, Cancer Council Queensland, who are promoting a pink and blue campaign for both men's and women's cancer charities.

Races on the program at this year's Gold Coast Airport Marathon are the full Gold Coast Airport Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair Half Marathon, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Gold Coast Bulletin 5km Challenge and Queensland Health Junior Dash.

www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au

Regional Spotlight
Queensland Home Garden Expo

Regional Spotlight 27,000 garden lovers can't be wrong. The annual Queensland Home Garden Expo makes gardening look very cool, very smart and very... well... green! Especially since the organisers recruited their 'green army' of gnomes to assist with marketing the 2010 expo.

In a clever approach to grabbing the attention of the media, a horde of fluorescent green garden gnomes have been making their way to the desks of newspaper, TV and radio journalists all over the country. Event organiser Marion Beazley bought out a few shelves worth at her local BIG W.

"I can just imagine the number cruncher's sitting up there in the office thinking 'Phwor! Green garden gnomes are going off!'" she laughs.

While the attention-grabbing stunt has ensured some great pre-event publicity, Marion and the team are flat out planning the biggest expo yet, with everything from a spectacular range of plants to the latest in garden tools, accessories, landscape garden displays, garden art and more.

"The expo is highly regarded as one of Queensland best gardening events and places amongst the top five in the country," Marion says.

Organised by the Sunshine Coast branch of Nursery and Garden Industry Queensland, the expo has gone from strength to strength over its 26-year history and in 2009 was a finalist in the Festivals & Events category of the Queensland Tourism Awards.

The "Giant Kitchen Garden" is one of the most popular features of the expo. This feature was introduced in response to a growing interest in organic and sustainable living gardening techniques and has grown in popularity and size each year. The feature includes a large organic vegetable garden display with two lecture and demonstration areas and a number of exhibitors with related products.

"While home gardening is the focus of the event, we always aim to offer a great day out for the whole family with free eco entertainment shows for the kids, quality food stalls and a number of innovative products to surprise everyone," Marion says.

If you are a novice, an avid gardener, collector or just looking for a great day out, be sure to head along to this year's Queensland Home Garden Expo.

Queensland Home Garden Expo
When: 9-11 July 2010
Where: Nambour
Web: www.homegardenexpo.com.au

Gold Coast Events Update
Play it, Live it, Love it in 2010

Gold Coast Events Update Entries are now open for the 7th Pan Pacific Masters Games to be held on the beautiful Gold Coast from 6 to 14 November this year.

More than 10,000 participants from all over Australia and more than 20 countries around the world are set to converge on the Gold Coast for this multi-sport and entertainment event.

AFL, Archery - Field , Archery - Target, Athletics, Baseball, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cricket, Dragon Boats, Football (Soccer), Futsal, Golf, Hockey, Indoor Netball, Indoor Rowing, Judo, Lawn Bowls, Motocross, Netball, Polocrosse, Rowing, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Shooting - Clay Target, Shooting - Pistol, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Swimming - Open Water, Taekwondo, Tennis, Tenpin Bowling, Touch and Water Polo.

No qualifying standards or times are required to enter. The only criterion is that you meet the minimum age requirement for your chosen sport, which for the majority is 30 years of age.

The sports are contested in age groups ensuring they are played fairly, competitively and in tremendous spirit.

While the sports are the soul, the Games Village is the heart of the Pan Pacs. Located at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, the Games Village will feature eight awesome nights of entertainment during the Pan Pacs.

Features:
Legendary house band Rush Hour will perform nightly at the Games Village with resident Pan Pacs DJ Tallie.
Saturday 6 November - Rockhouse with Ross Wilson and Dave Gleeson sharing vocals
Wednesday 10 November - Daryl Braithwaite
Friday 12 November - ACCA DACCA, the world's best AC/DC tribute band

To enter visit www.mastersgames.com.au

Asia Pacific Screen Awards Update
Lord Puttnam appointed 2010 APSA Jury President

Asia Pacific Screen Awards Update Academy-Award winner and producer of Chariots of Fire, The Mission and The Killing Fields Lord David Putnum will head the International Jury of the fourth annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), to be held on Australia’s Gold Coast on December 2, 2010. Lord Puttnam follows previous International Jury Presidents Huang Jianxin (2009, People's Republic of China), Bruce Beresford (2008, Australia) and Shabana Azmi (2007, India) to lead the group of distinguished film practitioners who decide on the winners of Asia-Pacific's highest accolade in film.

The announcement was made on 12 May from the Cannes Film Festival at the International Launch of the fourth annual APSAs, presented in partnership with FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations and the Screen Producer's Association of Australia (SPAA), attended by more than 150 key industry players from Asia-Pacific and Europe, including high profile members of the APSA Academy, President of FIAPF Mr Luis Alberto Scalella and His Excellency David Ritchie, Australia's Ambassador to France.

Lord Puttnam's illustrious body of work spanning more than 30 years as an independent producer includes Palme d'Or winner The Mission (1986) and the iconic Chariots of Fire, for which he received a Best Picture Oscar in 1981. The Killing Fields (1984), based on the experience of three journalists in Cambodia during the time of the Khmer Rouge, was also highly acclaimed.

In 2006, Lord Puttnam was awarded a BAFTA Fellowship for Lifetime Achievement. His extensive producing credits include Bugsy Malone, Local Hero, Midnight Express and he also produced Ridley Scott's directorial debut The Duellists, which played in Cannes in 1977 receiving a Unanimité award.

On accepting the appointment, Lord Puttnam said: "I have watched APSA go from strength to strength since its inception in 2007 and admire the contribution it has made to the promotion of Asia-Pacific films both in their own region and internationally. It is a great honour to accept the role of International Jury President and I look forward to collaborating with my fellow jurors in watching some of the great films from this highly creative region."

In a statement welcoming the announcement, Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh said: "Lord Puttnam is a legend in the world of film and he will bring great prestige, experience and credibility to the judging panel. I really look forward to welcoming Lord Puttnam to the Gold Coast later in the year."

APSA Chairman Des Power said: "The high calibre of our Jury attests to the integrity of receiving an APSA. I am honoured to welcome Lord Puttnam to preside over this year's Jury and have no doubt that his commitment to the ideals of APSA and extensive experience as a producer will make a valuable contribution to this year's awards. I know his appointment will be extremely well received."

Watch a special message from Lord Puttnam here: http://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/the_awards/jury

Click here to view the photo gallery from APSA's launch in Cannes www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2010_apsa_international_launch
www.asiapacificscreenawards.com

Find out what's on and where
www.queenslandevents.com.au/events