Pip Miller PR

Headaches, heartaches – alas, the end of the fin year is nigh….

Another busy week in the land of Festival Cairns 2008 – meetings with a Pandora’s Box of passionate event partners – namely The Leukaemia Foundation and their fabulous initiative, Festival Cairns Ambassador Quest – more about that later – The Tanks and their great program comprising everything from poetry slamming to kinky cabaret, king of rock Dave Graney and South Australian band with the mostest, The Audreys….checked into a meeting at BDO Kendalls to discuss the party of the program, the coveted VIP finale – very exciting to think we are focussing on the end already…what else is there – oh yeah, how could I forget about the DUCK RACE – Calanna Rotary Duck Race plus Crikey Catch a Croc and way more.

What else has been on this week’s agenda – well rather aptly, have been working on Horizon Financial’s brochure – so ask me anything about home loans, personal loans and finance in general from a broker’s perspective and I could tell ya a tale or two.

Then there is the guest list for Movenpick’s new ice-cream galleria that opens on 11 July – been playing my part there in between writing pressers, pressers and more pressers for all my lovely clients.

Last week was a break from convention when I was the Cairns media liaison for CSIRO’s big sub-marine volcano discovery off north east coast of FIJI – lots of media interest and a great one to work on – as was the Make a Wish Foundation’s inaugural I Wish My Boss Was Day…see pics – funny stuff.

On a personal front – family has been shining its competitive streak with the big kids tickling the ivories in Cairns Eisteddfod and running their hardest in today’s sports carnival – and they did a grand job too….

pip-miller-my-view-may-19-2008 My View – May 19, 08

Years ago I was involved in the grass-roots campaign of Ian Keirnan’s initiative, Clean Up Australia. This genius idea designed to clean up the country’s land and waterways was and still is, based around an actual event.

Earth Hour is another example of an idea that has quickly taken hold which basically says, you too can make a difference – starting with turning off the lights. Add to this, the never ending list of successful fundraising initiatives that include Red Nose Day for SIDS and Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, Relay for Life, the World’s Greatest Shave and close to home, COUCH – all cancer related causes based on a series of events.

What this is leading me to say, is a suggestion that we, as a community at large, adopt a similar approach to positioning and promoting our city as we race headlong into what is being forecast as lean and challenging times.

As a community who looks beyond its city walls for sustained economic growth, we should never underestimate events like Festival Cairns and their ability to focus attention both in the short and long term.

Having been involved in the marketing of Festival Cairns from the outset in 2002, and witnessing its transition from a one week Reef Festival to a three week uber-event, I still share in the vision of its founder, our former mayor, Kevin Byrne, who predicted that that in the future, this event has the power to put Cairns on the map. It’s definitely not there yet, but each year grows a little bigger and brighter.

In recent years, Cummings Economics has been contracted to provide a factual overview of the event and so far, findings have underscored its success in terms of attendance, economic impact and importantly, its genuine appeal to families.

Let’s start with the numbers. Last year’s event recorded participation of 145,000 people compared to 138,000 in 2006 with an increase in its economic contribution from $19.1 million in 2005 to $20 million in 2006 and 2007. Last year’s equine flu epidemic and the impact it had on attendances at Cairns Amateurs is the reason there was no marked increase in economic viability, however the fact it held its ground is telling.

To truly succeed, Festival Cairns needs a bigger voice. To achieve this, it needs greater involvement from the corporate sector and specifically, financial backing. Up until now, Cairns City Council and Pacific Toyota, along with a loyal band of event partners and sponsors, have been largely responsible for the festival’s annual staging. But this duet and its accompaniment/band needs to get way bigger if it is going to have any hope of sounding like an orchestra…

Taking cue from Festival Cairns and its Love Cairns message, we as a community should help our hard-working tourism industry out in their quest to get people travelling north by starting our own chorus about Cairns.

With belief in ourselves and this great place we live, we should make it our own personal mission to spread the word and in essence, get people visiting Cairns.

We could start by singing the praises of Cairns – think Facebooking, My Spacing, You Tubing and good old fashioned communicating – and before long, we will be heard….just like it showed in Dr Seuss’ adorable tale, Horton Hears a Who.

If we, as a community can all get behind this initiative – it won’t be long before we are heard far and beyond the city walls.

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MEDIA INFORMATION Monday 16 June 2008

RECYCLE REJUVENATE REFRESH

CAIRNS FAMILY MEDICAL CENTRE’S INAUGURAL LANTERN ART 08 COMPETITION

Hundreds of left over lanterns created for last year’s Festival Cairns finale highlight,The Parade of Lights, will be re-cycled, rejuvenated and refreshed as the foundation for Cairns Family Medical Centre’s inaugural Lantern Art 08 competition for schools.

For the past four years Festival Cairns has staged its annual mural art competition, however this year it has been re-created into Lantern Art 08 in an effort to be resourceful and reflect this year’s theme, Love Cairns, Love the Environment.

Students from around Cairns will be encouraged to register in this competition that promises a goody bag of cash prizes to the value of $1000. Following registration, which will finish on Friday 19 July, students and their teachers or parents are invited to Festival Cairns Lantern studio in Mulgrave Road. From here they will select their lanterns to remodel and refresh using any material or fabric they see fit.

Judging will take place prior to the Parade of Lights procession on the final day of Festival Cairns 2008, Saturday 20 September. All lantern creators and their art work will then be displayed in a moving procession that makes up the Parade of Lights.

For further information, contact organizer, Tim Arnott on tel: 40510222 or info@eventscairns.com

Festival Cairns 2008 will run from Wednesday 27 August to Saturday 20 September, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Visit the website on www.festivalcairns.com.au or contact Events Cairns on tel: 07 4051 0222 or email: info@eventscairns.com
Pip Miller PR
Ph: (07) 4032 4400
Mob: 0419 681 543
Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
Internet: www.festivalcairns.com.au

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MEDIA NOTIFICATION Monday 16 June 2008

FESTIVAL CAIRNS 08 KICKS OFF WITH EVENT PARTNER BRIEFING

As the management company of Festival Cairns 08, Denis Keeffe and his team at EventsCairns will welcome this year’s event partners to a special briefing on Wednesday 18 June 2008 at 6pm at the Shangri-La Marina hotel.

In an effort to relay information about Festival Cairns and provide event partners with their responsibilities and expectations, this traditional gathering is the first official event in the lead up to Festival Cairns 2008.

This year’s program will feature some 48 events that will roll out over 25 days between Wednesday 27 August and Saturday 20 September.

While the ‘love’ theme will be retained in 2008, it has been expanded to feature the environment as follows – Love Cairns, Love the Environment.

The official launch of Festival Cairns 2008 will be held on Wednesday 6 August 2008, just three weeks prior to kick off on Wednesday 27 August.

Festival Cairns 2008 will run from Wednesday 27 August to Saturday 20 September, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Visit the website on www.festivalcairns.com.au or contact Events Cairns on tel: 07 4051 0222 or email: info@eventscairns.com

Publicity
Pip Miller PR
Ph: (07) 4032 4400
Mob: 0419 681 543
Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
Internet: www.festivalcairns.com.au

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MEDIA INFORMATION Tuesday 17 June 2008

IN TODAY’S WORLD OF GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE, FESTIVAL CAIRNS DECLARES LOVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Festival Cairns 2008 – Wednesday 27 August to Saturday 20 September 2008

The ‘love’ theme for Festival Cairns 07 will live on with confirmation it is being retained in 2008 – albeit expanded to celebrate the city and its rather special relationship with, ‘the environment’.

The event program which kicks off on Wednesday 27 August and runs for 25 days, will feature a choice of 48 free and ticketed events spanning music, art, sport, entertainment and culture.

Alongside a host of popular favourites including Cairns Amateurs Spring Racing Carnival, TimeOUT concert, Carnival on Collins, QLD Cup (NBL competition), Food, Wine and All That Jazz, Reggaetown and Parade of Lights, highlight events making their debut this year include a three day international busking festival, a one-night concert by The Audreys and illusionist, Consentino Threshold.

The vibrant heart of Tropical North Queensland, Cairns is a city whose main claim to fame is its gateway access to Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage listed rainforests. While these natural wonders are a draw-card for visitors, they provide ample inspiration to those who make Cairns and the surrounding region, their home.

When it kicks off on Wednesday 27 August, Festival Cairns will role out to the tune of Love Cairns, Love the Festival, Love the Environment.

Since 2002, September has been set aside as the month to celebrate Festival Cairns. Spanning music, art, culture and sport, Festival Cairns brings together a series of free and ticketed events under one umbrella to entertain and delight both visitors and residents of the community.

Festival Cairns Organiser, Narell Black says that in addition to achieving its key objectives of showcasing and nurturing talent in a colourful and compelling event, this year’s expanded theme aims to highlight the magic of Tropical North Queensland’s environment.

“We intend this recognition of our beautiful surroundings to be a long term commitment. It is our hope, that by celebrating it in a positive way we will be enhancing awareness, engendering pride and greater responsibility for its preservation.”

According to Narell, 2007 was a watershed year with Festival Cairns achieving record attendances of over 145,000 to 50 events while bringing $20 million into the local economy.

“This year we have even bigger plans to increase our footprint on Queensland’s event landscape with an extended program that has been increased from 22 to 25 days,” said Mrs Black.

Festival Cairns 2008 will run from Wednesday 27 August to Saturday 20 September, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Visit the website on www.eventscairns.com or contact Events Cairns on tel: 07 4051 0222 or email: info@eventscairns.com

Publicity
Pip Miller PR
Ph: (07) 4032 4400
Mob: 0419 681 543
Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
Internet: www.festivalcairns.com.au

03fc-festival-cairns-supa-iga-announcement-june-08-pr1
Publicity
Pip Miller PR
Ph: (07) 4032 4400
Mob: 0419 681 543
Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
Internet: www.festivalcairns.com.au
MEDIA INFORMATION Thursday 12 June 2008

PICCONE’S SUPA IGA PUT FESTIVAL CAIRNS ON SHOPPING LIST

Cairns’ family-owned supermarkets Piccone’s Supa IGA have pledged support for Festival Cairns 08 by becoming one of this year’s Festival Partners.

According to Festival Cairns Operations Manager, Narell Black, this commitment in a show of true community spirit that is synonymous with the Piccone family name.

“In announcing this partnership today, I am delighted to announce that their contribution will be used to help stage a program of free, family-style entertainment on the esplanade during Festival Cairns,” said Mrs Black.

Piccone’s Supa IGA operates supermarkets in Edmonton and Piccone’s Shopping Village located at Pease Street. The company was established over 50 years ago and employs 300 people.

Mrs Black said while she was greatly buoyed by this gesture from Piccone’s Supa IGA, she was concerned this year’s Festival Cairns finale highlight, the Parade of Lights, would proceed without a naming rights sponsor.

“This event, now in its 41st year, enjoys a wonderful place in Cairns history. With recent news that its sponsorship is up for grabs, I want to get the message out that there in the hope of finding a new sponsor.

“Attracting over 20,000 visitors and locals to the esplanade each year, the parade is a wonderful opportunity to create awareness and community goodwill while investing in a piece of Cairns history,” she said.

The Parade of Lights procession was established in 1967 as part of Cairns former community celebration, Fun in the Sun. Since then it has been held on an annual basis and has been the finale highlight of Festival Cairns from the outset in 2002. This year’s event will take place on Saturday 20 September 2008 and the theme takes its cue from this year’s slogan, Love Cairns, Love the Environment.

Background information – Festival Cairns 08
The ‘love’ theme for Festival Cairns 07 will live on with confirmation it is being retained in 2008 – albeit expanded to celebrate the city and its rather special relationship with, ‘the environment’.

The vibrant heart of Tropical North Queensland, Cairns is a city whose main claim to fame is its gateway access to Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage listed rainforests. While these natural wonders are a draw-card for visitors, they provide ample inspiration to those who make Cairns and the surrounding region, their home.

When it kicks off on Wednesday 27 August, Festival Cairns will role out to the tune of Love Cairns, Love the Festival, Love the Environment.

Since 2002, September has been set aside as the month to celebrate Festival Cairns. Spanning music, art, culture and sport, Festival Cairns brings together a series of free and ticketed events under one umbrella to entertain and delight both visitors and residents of the community.

Festival Cairns Organiser, Narell Black says that in addition to achieving its key objectives of showcasing and nurturing talent in a colourful and compelling event, this year’s expanded theme aims to highlight the magic of Tropical North Queensland’s environment.

“We intend this recognition of our beautiful surroundings to be a long term commitment. It is our hope, that by celebrating it in a positive way we will be enhancing awareness, engendering pride and greater responsibility for its preservation.

“While our theme will be omnipresent throughout the festival in all marketing collateral and activities from the official website through to signage, certain events will take “Love Cairns, Love the Festival, Love the Environment” as its cue. These will include, “Dress Up Your Business”, Lantern Art Competition and finale highlight, “Parade of Lights”.”

According to Narell, 2007 was a watershed year with Festival Cairns achieving record attendances of over 145,000 to 50 events while bringing $20 million into the local economy.

“This year we have even bigger plans to increase our footprint on Queensland’s event landscape with an extended program that has been increased from 22 to 25 days,” said Mrs Black.

This year the program will introduce Ergon Energy’s Cairns Busker’s Festival as one of its highlight events. Incorporating amateur performers throughout the event, the busking festival will culminate in the presentations of five professional street performers ‘doing their stuff’ in City Place and The Esplanade between Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 September.

Traditional favourites returning to this year’s program include TimeOUT concert, Food, Wine and all that Jazz, Cairns Amateurs Spring Racing Carnival, Carnival on Collins, Reggaetown, QLD Cup NBL Basketball Tournament, Tropical Wave multi-cultural festival and Parade of Lights.

Festival Cairns 2008 will run from Wednesday 27 August to Saturday 20 September, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Visit the website on www.festivalcairns.com.au or contact Events Cairns on tel: 07 4051 0222 or email: info@festivalcairns.com.au

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Publicity
Pip Miller PR
Ph: (07) 4032 4400
Mob: 0419 681 543
Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
Internet: www.festivalcairns.com.au

MEDIA INFORMATION Wednesday 28 May 2008

IN TODAY’S WORLD OF GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE, FESTIVAL CAIRNS DECLARES LOVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

The ‘love’ theme for Festival Cairns 07 will live on with confirmation it is being retained in 2008 – albeit expanded to celebrate the city and its rather special relationship with, ‘the environment’.

The vibrant heart of Tropical North Queensland, Cairns is a city whose main claim to fame is its gateway access to Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage listed rainforests. While these natural wonders are a draw-card for visitors, they provide ample inspiration to those who make Cairns and the surrounding region, their home.

When it kicks off on Wednesday 27 August, Festival Cairns will role out to the tune of Love Cairns, Love the Festival, Love the Environment.

Since 2002, September has been set aside as the month to celebrate Festival Cairns. Spanning music, art, culture and sport, Festival Cairns brings together a series of free and ticketed events under one umbrella to entertain and delight both visitors and residents of the community.

Festival Cairns Organiser, Narell Black says that in addition to achieving its key objectives of showcasing and nurturing talent in a colourful and compelling event, this year’s expanded theme aims to highlight the magic of Tropical North Queensland’s environment.
“We intend this recognition of our beautiful surroundings to be a long term commitment. It is our hope, that by celebrating it in a positive way we will be enhancing awareness, engendering pride and greater responsibility for its preservation.

“While our theme will be omnipresent throughout the festival in all marketing collateral and activities from the official website through to signage, certain events will take “Love Cairns, Love the Festival, Love the Environment” as its cue. These will include, “Dress Up Your Business”, Lantern Art Competition and finale highlight, “Parade of Lights”.”

According to Narell, 2007 was a watershed year with Festival Cairns achieving record attendances of over 145,000 to 50 events while bringing $20 million into the local economy.

“This year we have even bigger plans to increase our footprint on Queensland’s event landscape with an extended program that has been increased from 22 to 25 days,” said Mrs Black.

This year the program will introduce Ergon Energy’s Cairns Buskers Festival as one of its highlight events. Incorporating amateur performers throughout the event, the busking festival will culminate in the presentations of five professional street performers ‘doing their stuff’ in City Place and The Esplanade between Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 September.

Traditional favourites returning to this year’s program include TimeOUT concert, Food, Wine and all that Jazz, Cairns Amateurs Spring Racing Carnival, Carnival on Collins, Reggaetown, QLD Cup NBL Basketball Tournament, Tropical Wave multi-cultural festival and Parade of Lights.

Festival Cairns 2008 will run from Wednesday 27 August to Saturday 20 September, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Visit the website on www.festivalcairns.com.au or contact Events Cairns on tel: 07 4051 0222 or email: info@festivalcairns.com.au

Publicity
Pip Miller PR
Ph: (07) 4032 4400
Mob: 0419 681 543
Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
Internet: www.festivalcairns.com.au

MEDIA INFORMATION Thursday 21 February 2008

IN TODAY’S WORLD OF GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE, FESTIVAL CAIRNS DECLARES LOVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

The ‘love’ theme for Festival Cairns 07 will live on with confirmation it is being retained in 2008 – albeit expanded to celebrate the city and its rather special relationship with, ‘the environment’.

The vibrant heart of Tropical North Queensland, Cairns is a city whose main claim to fame is its gateway access to Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage listed rainforests. While these natural wonders are a draw-card for visitors, they provide ample inspiration to those who make Cairns and the surrounding region, their home.

When it kicks off on Wednesday 26 August, Festival Cairns will role out to the tune of Love Cairns, Love the Festival, Love the Environment.

Since 2002, September has been set aside as the month to celebrate Festival Cairns. Spanning music, art, culture and sport, Festival Cairns brings together a series of free and ticketed events under one umbrella to entertain and delight both visitors and residents of the community.

Festival Cairns Organiser, Narell Black says that in addition to achieving its key objectives of showcasing and nurturing talent in a colourful and compelling event, this year’s expanded theme aims to highlight the magic of Tropical North Queensland’s environment.

“We intend this recognition of our beautiful surroundings to be a long term commitment. It is our hope, that by celebrating it in a positive way we will be enhancing awareness, engendering pride and greater responsibility for its preservation.

“While our theme will be omnipresent throughout the festival in all marketing collateral and activities from the official website through to signage, certain events will take “Love Cairns, Love the Festival, Love the Environment” as its cue. These will include, “Dress Up Your Business”, Mural Art Competition and finale highlight, “RACQ Insurance’s Parade of Lights”.”

According to Narell, 2007 was a watershed year with Festival Cairns achieving record attendances of over 145,000 to 50 events while bringing $20 million into the local economy.

“This year we have even bigger plans to increase our footprint on Queensland’s event landscape with an extended program that has been increased from 22 to 25 days. We are now calling for expressions of interest from prospective event partners and anyone who has ideas or wants to be involved.”

Festival Cairns 2008 will run from Wednesday 26 August to Saturday 20 September, 2008.
For further information: website www.festivalcairns.com.au or phone EventsCairns on 07 4051 0222 or email info@festivalcairns.com.au
ends

01FC Festival Cairns Call for Events Feb 08

This is my first official blog!  I have been threatening to write one forever and finally, here we go.

Very exciting week in the offing.  Lots of work to do that includes writing a guest list for a new ice-cream boutique launch in July, re-writing a brochure for Horizon Financial, issuing any number of press releases and coordination of a media launch to unveil new marine research findings by the CSIRO…then there is Make a Wish Foundation’s “I Wish My Boss Was….” Day etc.

Festival Cairns 08 is hotting up for another year…now in its seventh year….how time flies.  This year’s theme, Love Cairns, Love the Environment will provide great pr possibilities and lots of great events in the program. 

This week is the Event Partner’s Briefing with the big launch scheduled for 6 August.  Lots of work between now and then….media kit, national publicity – yikes.

What else is happening, well, am working on Juniper Development’s shiniest jewel in Port Douglas – Coconut Grove – all set to open in July 08 – then there is Paradise Palms’ new restaurant, 59 Restaurant and Bar opening 1 July and Castaways’ new conference centre at Mission Beach – also opening in July.

In the meantime, working hard on Hilton’s domestic campaign and hoping to lure and secure a series of famils and media publicity for Hilton and their three very value-packed deals.  Sadly, said good-bye to Hilton’s marketing exec, Gail Morrow on Friday – off to London to work with Hilton Worldwide Resorts – very exciting for her and takes me back down memory lane to the wonderful working holiday I enjoyed in London – from 1990 to 1992.

What else?  REally great to see and hear the publicity issued on Friday for the Tableland coffee growers awarded $9.1 million in compo  – Adam Stephen on today’s Country Hour (ABC) filed a great report featuring interview with Nat Jacques of Jacques coffee. 

All for now.

PIP

If you require extra information or would like to line up any interviews please contact Pip Miller at Pip Miller PR:

Mobile: 0419 681 543
Email: pip@pippr.com.au
Website Address: www.festivalcairns.com.au
Email Address: info@festivalcairns.com.au