Photo: Regional event grants are designed to secure high quality events which attract intrastate, interstate and international visitors to regional communities for sports and entertainment.
SMA’s specialist grant writing program has secured Government funding for several significant events being held across Australia, attracting large Covid-safe crowds and increasing regional tourism.
The events include The Bay Games in Shoalhaven, the World Jousting Championships in Orange, the 2021 Australian MX Invitational and Monster Truck Madness in Nowra and the 2022 Huskission Triathlon, which all secured funding as part of the 2021 NSW Government REAF funding scheme.
The events included The Bay Games, a fitness festival in Jervis Bay running over seven days and including a five day immersion event that will enhance the focus on human connection, mental health and physical fitness through a series of activities, adventures and academia.
The World Jousting Championship is an international solid lance jousting tournament featuring the best jousters from across the globe. The event will be held in Orange, NSW, attracting thousands of spectators and including a medieval faire with a full program of exhibits and demonstrations including real village life, archery, birds of prey demonstrations, Viking battles and a medieval catapult.
The “Big Husky” Triathlon Championship secured funding and attracts over 5000 participants plus 6000 spectators to the Shoalhaven region annually. The grant helped to extend the 2022 Husky Festival by adding extra activities and improving access for interstate and intrastate participants. New features at this triathlon include a 3-day Ultra triathlon (swim, bike and run done earlier in the week), an aquathon (no bike), open air cinema, food trucks and a health and lifestyle expo.
Meanwhile, the originally postponed 2021 Australian Supercross Championships were held last month in the Shoalhaven region (see story below), providing the opportunity for amateur riders to experience a world class track at Nowra Speedway.
Grants Writer and Event Support Specialist, Caitlin Sebbens, said the funding provided significant support for event owners and regions craving more events based tourism. “This support is for the social and economic recovery of our regions,” Caitlin said. “The NSW Government’s $40 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund (REAF) is helping organisations to attract new, major international and domestic events to regional areas and supports existing regional events to grow even bigger and better.
"SMA is really pleased to be able to help event owners access these grants and make a real difference to local regions.”
To find out about this specialist service and the opportunities on offer, call our Director, Craig Gibson on 0414 186 200.