September 16, 2014
The organisers of the annual Kingaroy Christmas Carnival are struggling to find enough sponsors and volunteers for this year’s event.
“This year’s carnival will be held on Thursday, December 11, and we need some help,” spokesman Craig Lucas said.
“The South Burnett Young Leaders Association Inc. in conjunction with key members of the South Burnett community will once again be running the 2014 Kingaroy Christmas Carnival.
“But since last year there have been members from the Young Leaders and other key members who have either moved away or have other commitments.
“We have held two meetings so far to start the Carnival preparations off and the attendances have been really low compared with 2013.
“Some members have had to take on extra duties to make sure that the 2014 Carnival goes ahead.
“Not only attendances are low this year, but the committee is on a knife edge as to getting enough sponsorship to cover all the costs involved.
“Running the carnival each year costs upwards of $20,000 and without the assistance from businesses and other sponsors, the Kingaroy Christmas Carnival would simply not go ahead.
“We meet on the second Tuesday of the month.
“Our next meeting is at the Carrollee Hotel meeting room (next to the back stairs) at 6:00pm-8:00pm on October 14.
“As I have already said, it costs just over $20,000 each year to run the carnival and one thing the committee is grateful for is we generally get/have between 50-60 helpers on the night.
“This includes the committee, SES staff on rotating shifts, ticket stall helpers, raffle ticket sellers and costume helpers.
“We have volunteers who blow up our balloons, members and other volunteers who help with set-up and pack-up. All our entertainers are volunteers as well. Mostly these volunteers are family members of the Christmas Carnival Committee.
“There are three categories of monetary sponsorship: Gold Sponsors $1000 or over, Silver Sponsors $500-$999, Bronze Sponsors under $500.
“In-kind sponsorship could include the following volunteering time, assistance with selling tickets in the ticket boxes, assistance with selling our raffle tickets, helping with set-up and pack-up, loan of equipment that can be used – tents, tables, chairs; products and vouchers valued $100 or under.
“If you are interested in volunteering, please give the Christmas Carnival Project Coordinator Will Johnson a call on 0408-644-460 or email the committee
“If you can assist with any sponsorship by way on monetary donations, gift vouchers or products, call Sponsorship Project Co-ordinator Tina Torrens on 0417-010-292 or email her.”
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Just asking .. why does the community have to have a Christmas Carnival every year. Apologies up front, yes it has been on the annual calendar event for the past however many years running – but if this year is proving to be a tough one for support by the community and in sponsors, would it be advisable as a committee to step back and ask yourselves “is this viable to run again??” I’m wondering if just because ‘we always have one, and it’s always what we do annually’ that it may not be a devastation to give it a miss for the fact. Try something else perhaps?? My thoughts.