Woodgate Community Events - AGM 2012

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Presidents Report

Firstly, and most importantly, Thank you to all involved with Woodgate Community Events Inc. We have had a very full year of activities and completed all extremely well – maybe not gained immensely financially but certainly in exposure, experience and community enjoyment.

We started the year in a blaze of national pride with the Australia Day Breakfast.  Once again weather played a small role in this event – originally the Free Community Breakfast was to be held outside but due to weather conditions and forecasts plans were changed from outdoor to in the hall with the SES cooking breakfast on the concrete patio.  This proved a resounding success – everyone getting involved with the Woodgate Singers and their Australiana Sing-a-Long and sausages, eggs and bacon on hand to feed the hungry crowd of over 100. The Bundaberg Council supported WCE with a donation.  Due to the success of this breakfast and the involvement of the community it has been decided to hold the breakfast from 7.30 – 9.30am and extend the morning to include some other outdoor type entertainment/games for after breakfast – games yet to be decided. 

Easter@Woodgate – our flagstaff event was certainly a huge weekend with all members putting in to ensure that this event was bigger and better than previous years.  The Movie Under the Stars night was held for the second year and we doubled our numbers – that is a great incentive to keep going with this idea – the families enjoy being able to bring their kids to something that is good entertainment and affordable – the tradition has been started and should be followed on.  The percussion workshops on Saturday were not very well attended but those that did join in had a fabulous time making extremely loud noises.  Unfortunately the noise created did interrupt the Orchid Society Cent Sale that was being held in the hall – this is something that must be considered in all future events.

Easter Monday saw the “return” of the Easter Fair – and it certainly returned in a blaze of stallholders, colour, visitors and extremely busy and tired (at the end of the day) volunteers.  The event was certainly bigger than previous events but also showed the shortfalls that our small group face.  The prime headache that events of this size create for our community is lack of volunteers – this must be faced head on and starting now.  I must here thank everyone for their support, particularly John Bellerby for his amazing help leading up to and on Easter Monday.

followed just 6 weeks after Easter@Woodgate – in itself a nightmare but thanks to our great team it went of extremely well – that is in organising etc.  -  there is something about the weather that seems to effect this particular week as the last 2 years have been extremely wet.  6 June is Qld Day and the Gourmet Cooking Demonstration held at the Club and demonstrated by Robert Cooper was once again well attended and thoroughly enjoyed.  Woodgate Arts in Winter followed in the weekend – Set-up on Friday was very well organised and ran very smoothly, Saturday was the opening of the exhibition which was wet and cold.  The small number of visitors to the exhibition were certainly impressed with the display.  Saturday night was the Bold and Bountiful dinner (bold in colour and bountiful in quantity) held this year in the Deck Area of the Community Club (instead of the marquee)  – 67 guest attended a three course meal and stayed warm and comfortable for most of the night.  The entertainment was by Mel Mae Quartet a quartet of young musician from the Jazz Institute in Brisbane.  Sunday was another extremely wet, cold and miserable day which caused the cancellation of the Free Jazz Concert in the Park.  Even though the event was technically cancelled the Quartet where happy to play for the few people that did turn up.  Due to the stage not being able to be used the front patio of the Hall was the stage with people sitting under small marquees on the grass to be entertained.  3 young girls from Bundaberg – Quattro also entertained briefly. The Art Exhibition was of the highest quality with many comments from visitors noting the quality and diverse range of artworks on show.  Special thanks goes to Jenny McDuff for her untiring effort in ensuring this exhibition become a noted “calendar” event in the region.

Monday saw the culmination of the weeklong event – Funday Monday Markets – these markets are considerably smaller than the Easter Fair but still very well attended by Stallholders even though their sites on half the size of Easter and the event held at the front of the hall not on the oval.  I would like to note here that our Markets are always well attended by stallholders because of the organisation – we receive many comments and thanks for the way our markets are organised – so keep up the good work everyone. The one downside to these particular markets – and only expressed by stallholders – was that visitors came in their numbers but came to enjoy the sun and art show – not to spend money.  “You can take a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.”!!!!!!  I must personally thank Nene Buckland and her friends who ran the “Kids Races on the Beach”  - a fun hour that all who participated thoroughly enjoyed – thanks Nene very much.

A few things that need to be addressed in the coming 12 months (that I see) are:

1.Volunteers: this is an ongoing problem. We need to get the word out that to volunteer for help out does not mean working on the Executive but just an hour here and there would help.

2.Funds: We will always be chasingmoney. Government money is running dry so we need new ideas, avenues and support to raise awareness and funds.  We have been extremely fortunate to date in receiving government support but this cannot be relied upon.

3.Events: We run 3 events, Australia Day, Easter@Woodgate and now “Spring into October” – the later two are both large events and take planning and organisation but to stay within our original “Mission Statement” we must also look into small “couple of hour” community entertainment – Saturday afternoon “sing-a-long with Fred” (hypothetical) – a humorous debate with local community members debating a local “issue” - we are more likely to get help from the community if we involve the community.

Once again thank you to each and everyone for your support over the last 12 months, particularly the Executive – John Trevor, Steve Crawford and Andrea Bellerby – all fulfilling their positions with expertise.  I see the next 12 months as challenging but fulfilling for the Executive and members of Woodgate Community Events. Inc

Helen Brett

President

Woodgate Community Events - AGM 2011

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Presidents Report AGM 7 November 2011

Woodgate Community Events inaugural meeting was held in September 2010 with a strong committee elected. The only change to our executive was the resignation of our first treasurer Maureen Oldfield with Andrea Bellerby nominated and was elected to fill that position. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you all for your commitment during the year. We have had a great working relationship and I’m sure that the new Executive will have the same relationship moving forward.

In July WCE received an extremely generous donation of a Lanier Colour Laser Printer from Tim and Julie Margin. The printer is a great asset to the organisation as it is a very good quality printer and extremely efficient. Thanks Julie and Tim for your generosity.

Events Calendar 2011.

In November 2010 I represented the organisation at the Queensland Events Regional Development Conference in Rockhampton. The Conference was attended by 200 other event organisers from all over Queensland with guest speakers from major events. Eg. V8 Supercars, Woodfood Festival and others. The conference was full on, a great networking tool, with extremely useful information being gained on new ways of event organisation.

For a new committee we have had an extremely busy year holding two major events, each incorporating smaller events and being co-host of another.

Easter Weekend 22-24 April, 2011.

22 April 2011 – “Flicks in the Sticks”

“Toy Story 3” was filmed on the Sports Oval to an audience of approx. 150 people. As a first time event the overall response was satisfactory – with those attending enjoying the “under the stars” entertainment. There was a charge of $5 per head with a Canteen selling chocolates, hot and cold drinks. We made an overall loss on the night.

24 April 2011 – “Woodgate Club Big Night Out”

This event was sponsored by the Woodgate Club and featured the entertainment of the Childers trio “Treble” and a Bundaberg Group “Electric Banana”. The response to this event was not as expected and decision at debrief was not to hold the event in 2012.

On a financial front these two events were not huge successes but as a first major event for the group I fell we did well and learnt a lot.

4-13 June 2011 “Woodgate Celebrates Queensland Week”

This 10 day event featured some sort of activity on every day culminating on a Family Funday. Most events were a huge success, exceeding all expectations. Unfortunately due to inclement weather the twilight bowls was cancelled and Woodgate Arts in Winter free jazz concert had a poor response – both days were very wet and cold. The overall result was a major success to be held again in 2012 but with fewer activities.

In September we had hoped to hold a “Garden Party” to coincide with Bundaberg in Bloom Festival and their Garden Competition. Due to unexpected circumstances by some members we had to cancel the day, but the Garden Competition was held and my thanks go to John Trevor, John Bellerby and Wayne Brown for their judging – an experience as all three commented on the amazing work people of Woodgate had put into their Gardens. Our thanks go to Dennis and Di Ham for their donation of a $50 voucher from Woodgate Hardware and Hire.

1 November 2011 – Melbourne Cup

Woodgate Club hosted a Melbourne Cup Luncheon and WCE ran the Calcutta Sweep and Raffle. There has been a complaint by an attendee that we ran the Calcutta Sweep incorrectly but hopefully I have clarified our position with the complainant. I would like to sincerely thank the Woodgate Club for inviting WCE to run these two events – the Calcutta is not a fund raising event as such but the Raffle certainly is. A debrief of this event will be held after the AGM.

In October the Woodgate Beach Tourism Association folded and their remaining assets where passed to WCE for their use as they see fit. On behalf of WCE I’d like to express our disappointment for the members of WBTA at the winding up off their association at the same time as expressing our appreciation for the generous donation.

In closing I’d like to reiterate my thanks to all members and know that 2012 will be another busy but rewarding year for all members not just the Executive who I wish all the very best for 2012.

Helen Brett President.

 

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