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Festival Of Sails

Geelong Connected Communities extends Festival sponsorship

Geelong Connected Communities has committed to another three-year sponsorship deal for the Festival of Sails, from 2018-2020, and has also agreed to sponsor the 2018 and 2020 Wooden Boat Festival.

The organisation’s sponsorship will support the city’s Wooden Boat Festival as well as the hugely popular waterfront activities at the Festival of Sails to be held on the Australia Day Weekend 26-28 January 2018.

The Wooden Boat Festival is held every two years, with the next festival scheduled for the March Labour Day weekend of 10-12 March 2018.

Geelong Connected Communities (GCC) Chair, Roger Grant, is really pleased to be ‘on board’ with the festivals.

“The Wooden Boat Festival is growing. It is a community based event and brings family entertainment to Geelong over the three days and encourages participation from a number of local community groups, so it is a great fit for us.”

“Our sponsorship of the Festival of Sails waterfront activities as well as the Wooden Boat Festival is an ideal way for the organisation to benefit the Geelong community on a wider level,” Mr Grant said.

GCC has now committed to a total of six years sponsorship of the Festival of Sails, with support beginning in 2015 and continuing until 2020.

GCC is Australia’s largest community enterprise, operating via a commission paid to the company when an account is opened at local Bendigo Bank branches, and nominating GCC as beneficiary. An independent Board of Directors, made up of local community representatives, then allocates those funds directly back into the community in a variety of ways.

“Our sole purpose is to benefit the Geelong community, and since 2013 we have distributed more than $1m to worthwhile community projects”, said Mr Grant.

Festival of Sails Chairman Peter Alexander said the Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) was delighted with the ongoing support of Geelong Connected Communities.

“Geelong Connected Communities has supported the Festival of Sails since 2015, and to have their commitment for the event through to 2020 is a strong indicator of how much the waterfront entertainment during the event means to the Geelong community,” said Mr Alexander.

The Festival of Sails waterfront activities will include market stalls, bands, roving entertainers and of course a spectacular fireworks display on Australia Day.

The RGYC provides event management and the facilities to host the WBF event, but most of the planning and management is delivered by a dedicated team of volunteers.

Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong Chairman and RGYC Vice Commodore Stuart Dickson welcomed the extension of support from Geelong Connected Communities.

“The Wooden Boat Festival has become a favourite on the boat-lovers’ calendar, as well as giving the Geelong community the opportunity to see first- hand some of the most historic Wooden Boats in Australia.”

“We are expecting more than 170 entries, approximately 1,000 direct participants and in excess of 12,000 visitors,” Mr Dickson said.

In 2018 there will be an expansion of community activities at the Wooden Boat Festival. This will include Tall Ships to sail on, an art competition for local primary schools, a Buskers Festival and a maritime art display at the Geelong Club.