By JONATHON HOWARD
MEET the Noosa youngster behind those booming sound and incredible light shows at some of the Sunshine Coast’s most prominent music festivals.
Eighteen-year-old Reagan Allen graduated Year 12 last year from Noosa District State School, Cooroy.
But don’t let his age or appearance deceive you, Reagan, who is working as an apprentice plasterer, is fast becoming one of the Coast’s best sound and lighting engineers.
His CV includes sound and lighting set-ups for the Big Pineapple festival, Gympie Muster, Woodford Folk Festival as well as DJ events.
He’s also earned himself recognition from Federal Wide Bay MP and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, who awarded him one of the nation’s top prizes for Year 12 students undertaking Vocational Education and Training in School (VETiS).
“The Australian Vocational Student Prize (AVSP) recognises outstanding skills, commitment and achievements as school students undertake vocational education in their final year,” Mr Truss said.
“I congratulate these students for their achievements and for demonstrating the first-class career opportunities that are being delivered in Wide Bay, through high-quality vocational education.”
Reagan said he had spent time teaching others the art of sound and lighting during his weekends, which led to the award.
“It was really thanks to a referral from DW Sound that started the whole thing for me,” he said.
“Although there’s not a lot of money to be made in sound and lighting, which is my passion, I have to work as a plasterer to keep me afloat.”
Reagan said he was offered a chance to go on tour with DW Sound, but turned the offer down.
“I just felt it was a little too soon to be going on tour – so I declined the offer,” he said.
The youngster is now hoping to fulfil his passion of working full-time on stage production in the future.
