By Emily-Rose Toohey
Kids of all ages were treated to an entertaining specialist zone during Jumpers and Jazz in July on Saturday 30 at Leslie Park, which included the ever-popular mini train.
Tony Gleeson was responsible for creating this year’s vibrant ticket station (a new edition to the ride) and said he was approached to undertake the task two weeks prior to the festival and immediately knew what he was going to do.
“I had no problem finding inspiration, it just came to me – I made it (ticket station) in my driveway,” Tony said.
He was approached by his neighbour (who was on the Jumpers and Jazz committee) to complete the task and as a newcomer to Warwick, Tony said it was great that they reached out to him.
“I was pleased to be involved in the community,” he said.
Helen Harm of Helen Harm Real Estate sponsored the ticket station and mini train (which also runs on school holidays) and gave the original money to fix up the latter.
“I said it was important that we had the mini train, because there’s not enough to keep the kids entertained at Jumpers and Jazz – Missy Peacharoo was great this year too,” Helen said.
“Pam (Burley, one of the festival’s committee members) said to me ‘it would be a shame that they won’t let us have the train’, so the designated ride zone was organised and some structure was put up so no one tripped over the chords.
“I earn my living from the community and the more we can improve the community and if everyone chips in, it’s great.”
Furthermore, Helen said when Jumpers and Jazz in July first started, all the local eateries used to sponsor the event, and now they do not.
“It’s our attitude – the festival has to have community support to survive and grow,” she said.
“That little ticket office is an investment and is somewhere people can identify with the train – it’s about the community doing little bits and pieces, the little things are important.”
