Bringing out our best

COMPETITION is what sport and I suppose life is all about – and right now the competition factor is driving the Sunshine Coast to achieve its best.
I am talking about the Sunshine Coast I know and love, Caloundra to Noosa.
Last weekend I witnessed and enjoyed being at the newest music/cultural festival in the heart of Maroochydore.
You can guess a figure of how many attended – take it from me, there were thousands, so I’ll go along with the estimated 30,000.
Starting at 10am and dancing, eating and singing its way to the wind-up at 9pm, it really was a great success.
But please remember this event grew from humble beginnings, a struggling main street with empty shops and no imagination until some locals drove their passion into reality.
Now in its fourth year, the Ocean Street World Festival is building momentum along with the new restaurants, bars, cafes and venues along the street.
The street-length food court offered German, Indonesian, Spanish and African delights and was complemented by belly dancing, South Sea Islander, Brazilian samba and funk music.
Another win for the day was introducing some of the international triathletes who are currently based here for training.
The group is being tutored by long-time Noosa tri commentator Toby Coote and has been here since the Mooloolaba World Cup in March.
Toby has high hopes for one of his charges, Papua New Guinean Rachel James, who has already improved her swim time by five minutes and is gung-ho to represent her country again after her first appearance in Glasgow last year.
All four athletes will be heading for Port Moresby for the Pacific Games in July.
The weekend festival has already produced competition with new event announced for August, the Maroochydore Music and Visual Arts to be based on the old seventh fairway on the Horton Park Golf course.
It all sounds terrific, but not so, as the Caloundra Music Festival is planned for around the same time.
So as you can imagine, this competition has already put some noses out of joint.
I think it’s terrific because it will add the competition that’s needed to keep event organisers on their toes to produce the best result for everyone.
It might even bring some Sunshine Coast councillors up to date, in where ratepayers’ money should be spent.
If you don’t know, most successful Coast events are run by individuals/ event organisers who are supported financially or council staff to help run a smooth operation.
Most events need to have many sponsors and a wide volunteer base to run their annual event.
Noosa event organisers should take a bow, as their events have led the way and it’s that local jealousy and competition that’s seen all these other events come to fruition.
The Jack Newton Pro-Am, Jazz Festival, Noosa Triathlon, Long-Weekend and the upcoming Food and Wine Festival are a testament to an amazing group of individuals and their supporters, who started the competition.
Until next time.