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JANUARY
Have
Your Say
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Sun 22 Jan 2012
Spring School of Irish Music Gets Thumbs Up
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The Spring
School of Irish Music which is held in the three days leading up
to the Turning Wave Festival may still get the go ahead according to
the TWF committee. At the time of receiving Gundagai's festival
rebuff negotiations with the 2012 Irish guest were well underway.
The Spring School is funded independently of the festival and, it
would be quite feasible for it to go ahead provided a suitable venue
could be found. Obviously, holding the School in Gundagai would be
unacceptable given the current unfriendly climate. |
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Sun 22 Jan 2012
Turning Wave Response
The TWF committee has
spent much time in deliberation to determine the best and most
appropriate course of action for 2012. It is obvious from Mr Erkelens
comments in the Gundagai Independent on Monday 12 Dec. that the Turning
Wave Festival is no longer welcome in Gundagai or valued by its
community. As he clearly stated on behalf of the town, “Gundagai doesn’t
want the Turning Wave Festival…. we’re replacing it as far as we’re
concerned”. In view of this and Mr Erkelens’ tirade of criticism
and accusation in the newspaper article the committee believes that, in
such a small town, it would be difficult to stage the festival without
the support of the whole community and to present the friendly and
welcoming atmosphere which has been such an important part of the
Turning Wave experience. Reluctantly and with great disappointment the
TWF committee has advised the Gundagai community through an Ad and a
letter in the 19th Jan edition of the Gundagai Independent that, given
the current circumstances it is not able to stage Turning Wave Festival
in Gundagai in 2012. An article to this effect will also appear in the
23rd Jan Edition of Trad & Now.
Thurs 19 Jan 2012
Town
Factions Sink Festival
The blue gums may be
growing, and the Murrumbidgee flowing but an undercurrent of
personal conflict and
rivalry from factions within Gundagai may be at the root of the town's
withdrawal of support for the Turning Wave Festival.
Why
a community would shun an event with a track record to deliver proven
benefits to their town and, which is both highly regarded and attracts
people from all over Australia to enjoy its diverse and vibrant
programme of entertainment has left the Turning Wave Committee
dumbfounded.
It is disappointing when an element
within a community is prepared to put self interest and personal
grievance before the best interests of the town.
Mon 16 Jan 2012
DECEMBER
Committee Devastated
as Gundagai Officially Shuns Turning Wave
In a further rebuff for the
Turning Wave Festival an article appeared in the
Gundagai Independent on 12 Dec ’11 where Mr. Erkelens, also the chairman
of G.R.E.G. stated emphatically, “Gundagai doesn’t want the Turning Wave
Festival.... we’re replacing it as far as we’re concerned”.
The Festival’s Artistic Director, Pam Merrigan expressed total
bewilderment by this unexpected turn of events especially since the
Festival generates in excess of $120,000 for the town over the festival
weekend each year.
This snub has come as quite a blow
considering the thousands of unpaid hours the committee has dedicated to
the organisation of this event and, to ensuring its artistic success
over the past six years.
This news has left the TWF committee devastated and in a quandary as to
what to do in 2012.
Fri 16 Dec 2011
Turning Wave Troubles
Plans for the 2012 Turning Wave Festival
were thrown into disarray in late November 2011 when the Festival’s
Artistic Committee received a letter from Mr Richard Erkelens,
representing the Gundagai Regional Enhancement Group (G.R.E.G.),
terminating its involvement with the Festival. G.R.E.G. (and its
sub-committees) is TWF’s major supporting organisation in Gundagai. The
TWF committee was also advised that G.R.E.G. would be developing and
promoting its own festival for the town called “Reclaim Gundagai”.
While this news caught the committee totally unawares, at this stage TWF
remains committed to the Gundagai Community and will endeavour to meet
that commitment if circumstances permit.
Fri 2 Dec 2011
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