Tara Festival organisers eeking more people to get involved in their committee to safeguard future of the event
More than 10,000 people are expected to descend on Tara in August for the annual camel-racing festival. Despite being months away organisers have been hard at work ensuring this year’s event is bigger and better than ever.
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Organisers of the Tara Festival have been working hard for months gearing up for what is forecast to be the biggest event yet.
More than 10,000 guests are expected at the biennial festival in August which has been running for more than 20 years.
Initially started by former sheep shearer and Tara camel racing co-ordinator Lou Thornbury as a way to fundraise for local groups and bring culture into Tara, the festival has bloomed over the decades into one of the region’s most spectacular events.
Alongside her husband Richard Thornbury and fellow sheep shearer Wayne Bishop, Ms Thornbury noticed the increasing popularity of camel racing and was inspired to bring the sport to Tara.
Festival secretary Toni Rolles said there would be something for everyone at this year’s Tara Festival.
“There will be the camel races, the Abbey races, there will be fashions in the field as well as cultural entertainment with Murphy's Pigs the Celtic band, the Indian belly dancers and Hawaiian lei dancers,” she said
“We also have fireworks and music for dancing, a free kids zone, a book week parade on the Friday morning and there is also 90 market stalls booked in.
“This is my fourth festival and it has grown phenomenally, the ticket sales are phenomenal, the camping sites are selling fast even though we are still two and a half months out.”
Ms Rolles said they would be hosting an open committee meeting on May 20 at the Tara community centre and encouraged people to come along and meet with the members.
“We are looking for people to come to the committee meeting this side of the festival to see what we have to work through rather than waiting to after the festival is over,” she said.
“We want people to come and have a look at what the committee does and if they could shadow one of the committee members that could act as a succession plan for us because there is a burnout factor that happens.”
Ms Rolles said significant work went into putting the event together but knew the community appreciated the effort.
“We have been working for a long time and we are coming to the tail end of it, (but) if the cleaners aren't booked six months out you aren't going to get them, if the foodies aren't booked six months out you won’t get them, if the stages and sound aren't booked by February you go into crisis mode,” she said.
“You have to get all of these things smoothed out early into the piece.
“The committee is wonderful, I couldn't even hesitate to give you a estimation on how many hours of preparation it takes for the three days.
“People don’t know the work that goes into it but they sure appreciate it.”
For more details visit www.tarafestival.com.au.
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