Rose and Rodeo a huge success

Warwick’s Rose and Rodeo Festival is a credit to all who work together to put on a fabulous weekend – the Show and Rodeo Society, Council, the Police and Emergency Services, SES, the Warwick Potters Association and their marketeers, the Horticultural Society, the many sponsors including Warwick Credit Union and the Buchner Family who sponsor our parade and celebrity horse race, the crew at the Visitor Information Centre, Shona Gibson and the Board members of Warwick Tourism & Events, Karina Devine and the Art Gallery volunteers, Young Ambassadors,  the businesses, schools, community organisations, Town Crier Bob Townshend, finishing with our good-natured celebrity jockeys and race-caller, Mal Sheard.
However, I would also like to acknowledge the fantastic pre and post event coverage by local media outlets. Our event would not reach the heights that it does without the commitment of these organisations. They help to lift the community vibe and my only concern sometimes is that I deliver in line with the glowing pre event publicity.
The Friday night mardi-gras was a huge success. The people I spoke to were elated that the event was back in the central CBD, giving focus to our beautiful town hall as ‘centre stage’, local businesses and to the Horticultural Society’s floral window competition.
People of all ages seemed to find something that excited them, from the amusement rides for the young to the entertainment program outside the town hall and of course, the Celebrity Horse Race for the more mature.  Thanks to the Warwick Thistle Pipe Band, the Bellydance Hipstars, the Killarney School of Dance, Kate Christiansen, the Walmsley Brothers and ‘Wanted – Dead or Alive’ for a great night of entertainment at centre stage.
The Warwick & District Country Music Club, Heather Macphail and Darryl Craft, together with the band ‘A2B’ also provided great atmosphere with their busking and added to the footpath dining experience in beautiful downtown Warwick.
Hearty thanks to the 12 runners in the Buchner Cup celebrity horse race including Daily Dalmatian, who was victorious for the 3rd time. Admittedly race caller Mal Sheard was pretty savage on the handicapping throughout the heats so some of the more athletic contenders had their work cut out for them. Thanks for being such great sports.
Saturday’s street parade was definitely a quality parade and it was obvious that entrants had put a great deal of time, effort and creativity into their participation. There was a wonderful array of entries from schools, community organisations and businesses and we were delighted that so many had embraced the Sesquicentennial Carnivale theme.
I must make an apology to the team from Mirror Finish Smash Repairs. In the transfer of information from registration forms to the parade announcer’s spiel, I omitted the correct information for Mirror Finish Smash Repairs and instead referred to them as the Mid City entry. They were rightly disappointed that the audience missed vital information about their business. Sorry guys. I promise to make it up to you next year.
Congratulations to the parade winners: School Exhibit & Overall Winner – Wheatvale State School; Equestrian – Lockyer Light Horse Troop; Trade, Commercial, Agricultural – Granite Belt Dental; Club, sport, other – Warwick Animal Welfare; and Best in Theme – Murray’s Bridge State School.
The markets in Leslie Park were also a huge success with over 140 stallholders.  The feedback reflected the high quality of the products at the markets.  It’s nice to have that reputation of excellence and the Warwick Potters Association is to be congratulated on running this aspect of the festival.  It is one of the biggest jobs imaginable to register and organise all those stallholders.  Particular thanks to Sue Keong and Sue Creed.
Once again, the success of this event makes me very proud to call Warwick home and very proud of the way in which this community and its residents throw down the welcome mat to visitors. The partnerships that make this event happen are strong and I am very lucky to work with such dedicated and enthusiastic community members.
Tracy Vellacott,
Chief Executive Officer
Warwick Tourism & Events