SW events win cash

Events in the region have received funding as part of the State Government’s 2021-21 Regional Events Scheme.

Bridgetown’s Fridgetown Festival, Pemberton’s Regenerative Living Festival, the Tour of Margaret River Pro Am — which travels through Nannup, Bridgetown and Manjimup — have each received funding this year.

These events join the Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival, the Boyup Brook Country Festival, Nannup Music Festival and Karri Valley Triathlon as grant recipients.

The scheme offers grants between $5000 and $40,000 to small and emerging events in regional WA.

Davina Dean, from Fridgetown Fest, said they were delighted to have received the funding.

“The grant will go towards Fridgetown’s marketing and branding strategy to help us raise the profile of the festival in order to attract more attention and visitors and ultimately contribute to tourism and economic growth in our region,” she said.

Pemberton’s Regenerative Living Festival organiser Susanne Peet said the funding was a positive thing not just for the festival but for the community.

“Considering all the event funding has been cancelled because of COVID-19 at the moment, this is the only event funding that has been available,” she said.

“I’m really excited to have the funding to be able to make the event improve this year.”

Nannup Flower and Garden Festival coordinator Jo O’Dea said the funding made events possible.

“These sorts of festivals are very much community run and community based, with a strong emphasis on creating these towns and these places as a destination and working with the community to collaborate,” she said.

“Things like this particular funding make that possible, because much of what we offer is free, it’s really about encouraging people into the community and the town, so we need to have the resources to be able to put on the best we can to showcase our town.”

South West MLC Adele Farina welcomed the funding for nine events in the Warren-Blackwood region.

“It is great to see nine fantastic Warren-Blackwood events benefit from the scheme,” she said.

“I was pleased to see the Fridgetown Festival in Bridgetown received funding, an event held over three months, which embraces the colder months and celebrates its status as the winter capital of WA.”