Many of us in this chamber have a number of music festivals held in various
communities in our electorates. In Western Victoria Region we have along the coast the
Port Fairy music festival, the Portarlington Celtic festival and the Apollo Bay
Music Festival, just to name a few.
Last weekend was the 17th annual Apollo Bay Music Festival, and
what a line-up of Australian and international musicians there was! Everything
was perfect — the weather, the hospitality and the great interaction. The
tourist dollar is important to communities such as Apollo Bay, and the festival
provides a perfect excuse to showcase the natural beauty of the area. But it is
also an opportunity for our grassroots talent to come to the fore. The local
community street parade on Friday night was lively, colourful and engaging. On
Saturday morning the Apollo Bay P-12 College choir drew tears of joy and pride
down everyone’s cheeks with wonderful renditions of Nothing Sweet About Me and
Flame Tree.
I would like to specifically congratulate president Peter
Filmore, his team of David Capon, Chris Marriner, Anton Tibbits, Robyn Gray,
Jayne Martin and Danielle Stevens, and the festival director, Caroline Moore,
for once again pulling off a spectacular Apollo Bay event, an event this Brumby
Labor government proudly supports.
