Why not a month-long Ballarat Festival in March?

-OPINION

BY RON EGEBERG

 

TO my mind the fireworks on Sunday night 16 January were a waste of money and without purpose.

I do not understand why the fireworks don’t happen as they did for many years during the Begonia Festival.

I read that there is a move afoot for a new festival. Can I suggest we get the languishing Begonia Festival right first. We must not throw the baby out with the bath water.

Over the years, commencing with Barry Wilkins and even during my time as director of the Begonia Festival, the fireworks were held during the festival to celebrate Ballarat.

May I remind everyone that the most popular tourist attraction in Ballarat is and has been for decades our lake and gardens precinct

During my time at the Begonia Festival, we attracted over 100,000 people annually to it. What has happened? Why do we do stage events that have little, if any, tourism or economic benefit to our city?

The Ballarat Festival should run for the month of March, which is the time when Ballarat experiences its best weather, so as to show case our great city.

Four weekends celebrating and not limited to our lake and gardens, the arts, sport, our history and Ballarat as a city of innovation.

With our internationally famous begonias as our umbrella, and food and wine as a reason to stay overnight, preferably a couple of days. And to encourage our local community to encourage visiting friends and relatives to Ballarat with a diversity of offer.

Our attractions also must feature – the Art Gallery with a tempting exhibition (think Bendigo or the NGV), Sovereign Hill, Her Majesty’s Theatre with a locally produced show, and, of course, the Eureka Centre.

And, finally, we must find a way that encourages everyone, particularly representative associations, to work together interdependently – just take a look at Bendigo.

United we can make it happen, divided we will again fail!