The 2005 Australian Festival was held at Centennial Park starting on Thursday September 8, 2005 and completing on Sunday September 11, 2005. The Festival consisted of the following participants from Australia, New Zealand, and from around the United States:

• 20 associated sponsor organizations, with 4 key festival partners

• 50 musicians representing 20 musical acts from Australia and New Zealand

• 75 ANZACC business attendees & speakers from around the United States

• 18 Australian & New Zealand Food, Wine and Travel Trade Show booths with an estimated 150 attendees.

• 75 exhibitors representing 16 Australian Expo Tents

• 25 animals and associate staff of 10 presenting from Kentucky Down Under

• 225 Sports Down Under participants representing 17 clubs

• 300 G'Day Mates school children participants

• 75 Australian Festival volunteers and staff operating over the 4 day period

These incredible groups and individuals came together to promote the land down under to the city of Nashville by featuring culture, music, art, business, travel ,sports, commerce, education, recreation, and general family entertainment. The Australian Festival un-official attendance for all 4 days was 6,838 which was made up of the following details:

• Sunday September 11, 2005 - 2, 315 * official counts

• Saturday September 10, 2005 - 3,773 * official counts

• Friday September 9, 2005 - 750 * unofficial count

• Thursday September 8, 2005 - 100 * unofficial count

A huge thanks to all our wonderful festival patrons that attended and supported our event (and told your friends about it as well). This is your festival and we appreciate your patronage!

The Australian Festival would like to recognize our key dignitaries in attendance - Gary Quinlan, Deputy Chief of Mission from the Australian Embassy and John Wood, New Zealand Ambassador to the United States. We were honored to have your presence at our event and we thank you for the service that you and your staff provide to our countries. We also make special note of thanks to the involvement of the Australian Embassy with the G'Day Mates program and Australian Expo. We are also extremely grateful for tremendous guidance and support we received from the Australian Trade Commission leading up to and throughout this event (primarily from Atlanta, with representatives from Washington and Los Angeles). A final note of recognition to John Butler and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce who became great partners in showcasing the city of Nashville and the tremendous opportunities that exist within Middle Tennessee. 

We would also like to acknowledge key Australian Festival and ANZACC Conference sponsors and partners for their tremendous support - The Australian Embassy, The Australian Trade Commission, Down Under Answers, Hardy Wines, BHP Billiton, Santos, Party Place, Fox 17, Qantas Airlines, Invest Australia, Nashville Healthcare Council, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, ANZACC National Body, Southern Cross Travel, Monroe Carrol Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt Select Inn, Oldies 97, Bundaberg Ginger Beer, Gibson Guitar, Australian Catalogue Company, BeareWare, & the Nashville Kangaroos. Without their support this event would simply not exist so thanks MATES!

Thanks to all the participants listed above - you represented your companies (and countries) with tremendous distinction and we are proud of our association with each of you. The diversity and variety of events and products that were featured were the best we had ever seen. Congratulations to the winners of the Australian Festival Cup in each category!

A special thank you to the volunteer core of the Australian Festival. In busy, hot, and sometimes very hectic conditions you guys were absolutely fantastic. Australia is a country that is known for its rugged and sometimes harsh conditions. The country has established tremendous fighting spirit that has come along with the building of our great land. This same fighting spirit was captured by our volunteers who took on any and every task with tenacity, professionalism, and enthusiasm. You were all great ambassadors to Australia and I hope you can sit back and enjoy the results you help produce.

Finally - I would like to acknowledge the staff of the 2005 Australian Festival - Vicki Payne, Shane Clohesy, Richard Butler, John Lomax III, Grant White, Susan Collier, Rodney Grljusich (aka Grilla), James Daniels (and his crew), Greg Foley & Jude Furniss (ANZACC), Jared Payne, and Jamie Pomeroy. (all tremendously supported by Howard Becak, Linda Moore, and the Party Place ground logistics crew & Jillian Barrow & Kirk Demeter from Down Under Answers for their superb flight logistics support between Australia and Nashville.) The staff was also assisted directly by Adam Bishop, Moreen Logsdon, Nicole Bryce, Denis Ryan, and Randy Upton. It was a pleasure working with you over the course of the last twelve months bringing this event together (and then executing the event in a very professional manner). I hope you can all look back at your accomplishments with a great sense of pride and also recognize the distinct privilege we all have in getting to promote our homeland to our friends and family in Nashville. 

The 2006 Australian Festival (10th Annual) will be held on September 7, 8, 9, & 10, 2006 at Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee. Plans are already under way to establish a night session on Friday and Saturday that will feature entertainment, food, and drink (day and night sessions). A full and extensive array of children's rides and games is expected to be added to Kids Down Under, and the Woolshed will be relocated to the Travel/Business Down Under section for maximum exposure. The Australian Festival is also expecting to hit the road and to be operating in 2-3 other cities in the upcoming year. 

Cheers and G'Day!

Peter Beare, Festival Director
2005 Australian Festival

For more general details about the Australian Festival please visit - http://www.australianfestival.com

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2005 Australian Festival - September 9, 10, & 11, 2005
Centennial Park
Nashville, Tennessee

Australian Festival Fact Sheet - Click Here - Australian Festival Layout - Click Here

Contacts:

Peter Beare - Festival Director
Australian Festival
P.O. Box 128156
United States
Nashville TN 37212
(615) 460-1401
E-mail : director@gdaynashville.com