Australian Festival 2004 History 

The Australian Festival - History in the Making!

2004 saw the re-birth of the Australian Festival which started with the commencement of the Australian Festival moving to Centennial Park. Centennial Park is the showcase metropolitan park in Nashville - so the move created immediate excitement and exposure to the event that we had not seen before. The event jumped in size by approximately 3 - to around 3 acres - approximately 40 tents - with 3 main stages. A complete redesign of the Festival - including brand names was really focused on as part of this redesign. For the first time in the events history we hired a event management group that would long term oversee the entire event annually. 

The Festival opened on Thursday September 9, 2004 with the Australian Business Forum - (hosted by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce) and this was a great success. For the first time in our festival's history we were visited by Australian government representative - Deputy Chief Of Mission - Mr. Peter Baxter - who wowed local businessman and visiting ex-pats with his promotional an enthusiastic speeches about Australia. On Friday September 10 we had the G'Day Mates Schools program which saw over 1000 school children learn all about the land down under. 

The Festival also opened to the general public on Friday afternoon - and considering this was our first year we were pleased with attendance. Friday night saw the Gum Trees Gala - which was clearly the best social function the festival had run. Over 250 people packed the Australian Pavilion and were treated to awesome food from the West End Outback, great music from Pru Clearwater & Tom Mason - and drinks all round by Hardy Wines and Fosters Lager. 

Then came "Super Saturday" - which is now in the books as the busiest Saturday in Australian Festival History. We had an estimate 3000 walkers for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (that ultimately raised over $600,000.00 on their 5 mile walk for the Saturday morning session) - and then  we had an estimated 5000 people attend Saturday's Events. Highlights on Saturday was Kentucky Down Under's petting zoo, the Arts Down Under exhibition of Joanne Reid's Aboriginal Art, the Nashville Kangaroos/Chicago Swans match up with the days biggest event being the Gathering Australian Homecoming Concert with headliner Tommy Emmanuel absolutely raising the roof with his amazing guitar playing.

This completed a very busy Saturday and the festival opened up to a smaller crowd on Sunday morning. Usually Sunday morning is a slowest point in the festival and just as crowds were starting to flock in - dark rain clouds also came rolling in. After 7 years of event sunshine - the festival finally encountered it worst weather - a massive rainstorm that lasted 3 hours - and washed the Sunday session down the drain. Due to the force of the rain and the wetness of the park - the Australian Festival was officially closed at 3:00 p.m.. This was incredibly disappointing to all involved, and also had a significant financial impact on the net result of the event. But by putting this act of nature in prospective - the Australian Festival had really grown new wings - and with its new home and design is certainly set to grow and prosper for many years to come!

* The Nashville Kangaroos, Inc. ceased operating the Australian Festival after the 2004 Australian Festival. Due to the rain - the Club incurred a significant financial loss that forced the club to make this very tough decision. Excellent charitable support from Nashville Club Members combined with compassionate generosity by key Australian Festival vendors allowed the Nashville Kangaroos, Inc. to clear all debts related to the 2004 Australian Festival.

2004 Australian Festival Committee

Peter Beare - Director, Ruth Freeland - Secretary, Shane Clohesy, Richard Butler, Jeff Persson, Stella Phelps

2004 Australian Festival Poster