Townsville Eisteddfod President Wendy Lloyd on why the competition keeps soaring
There’s been a few missed years because of Covid and flooding, but the Townsville Eisteddfod has gone from strength to strength. Here’s why organisers think it’s done so well.
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The Townsville Eisteddfod will dance, sing and perform its way to a very special milestone this year.
The popular event first ran in Townsville in 1948 and, with a couple of years missed due to floods and covid, the Eisteddfod will celebrate its belated 75th running in September this year.
President Wendy Lloyd said that while the Brisbane Eisteddfod had folded in 2021 due to ‘a loss of relevance’, Townsville’s Eisteddfod was more popular than ever with more than 2000 entrants expected across all areas of the arts for this year’s event.
“I think because we have some outstanding music teachers, dance teachers and teachers in all areas of the arts, including creative arts, who are encouraging young people to put themselves out there, she said.
“To perform, to go on stage and have that opportunity. They may not necessarily go on to be great actors or dancers, but it develops those young people as young, resilient, capable people in our society and I think many parents and teachers see that as a very distinct benefit.”
Mrs Lloyd said the eisteddfod was a generational event for many Townsville families.
“We have dance families, from the dance teachers down to their great grandchildren who are performing. “We have music teachers and we have speech teachers, where there are three generations coming and being part (of the eisteddfod).”
The president said the event would not be possible without the volunteers and also sponsors including Townsville City Council and Glencore who had extended their sponsorship.
She said Glencore had been a long term supporter of the eisteddfod’s Irish section and this year their support would also go towards helping the competition’s 75-plus volunteers.
“We are always looking for volunteers. Anybody you can give two hours or 20 days,” she said.
Glencore’s Copper Refineries Townsville production superintendent Graeme Campbell said the refinery was proud to be a long term supporter of the Townsville Eisteddfod through its community funding programs.
“We seek to support and strengthen local not for profit organisations to bring valuable community events like the Eisteddfod to Townsville and the surrounding region,” he said.
This year’s eisteddfod will be at the Townsville Civic Theatre and the Denise Glasgow Performing Arts Centre from September 6-27 with entries open until June 16. For more information go to http://townsvilleeisteddfod.org/
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