Joe Camilleri may have closed his set singing about getting ‘no satisfaction’, but the crowd got plenty as it whooped and screamed collectively for more.
It was a fitting start to the entertainment highlights to follow at this year’s RedFest, with Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows only spreading joy to an appreciative audience on Friday night, Jeff Lang wowing the bigger Saturday night audience with his musical versatility and style and Taxi Ride set for a journey down a mighty musical highway on Sunday.
These were the headline acts but acts that could have graced the main stages with equal aplomb kept the thrum of the festival pulsing with energy and verve across multiple stages. Most festival goers agreed that the calibre of entertainment is what made the entry price a bargain.
This year’s children’s activities were focussed on one place with the children able to decorate potted strawberries, do beading and card making, and enjoy top shelf entertainment including the Kangagang show and Lolipop the clown. By night, this became another entertainment venue featuring Dave Steel, Darren Percival and Mama Juju and the Jam Tarts.
Saturday night’s lantern parade and fireworks attracted the families with hundreds of children carrying hand made lanterns throughout the festival grounds.
Winning this year’s vocal contest was Georgia Moreton, Leah Lever and Tara Hines with second place getters in junior, intermediate and senior divisions Quinn Chambers, Chloe Makiol and Grace Hunt.
The Quandamooka Festival included dance, story telling, sand art with Craig Tapp and weaving, using fibres washed up on the shores of North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah).
Also run at the festival was the 25th annual National Town Criers Championship attracting a field of 28 Australian and two guest criers from New Zealand . It was hosted by Redland town crier Max Bissett who was awarded the Vic Garth memorial award for outstanding service to the guild and to the Redland City Council and also the conviviality award.
Stephen Clarke of Gosford took out best crier, best dressed and champion of champions with Graham Keating of Sydney taking out the loudest cry, second place and second champion of champions. Judy Campbell of Echuca/Moama took out third place and best scroll. Gavin Barker of Victoria took third place in champion of champions with senior prizes going to Bob Townsend of the southern Downs and Fred Krebs of Sandgate.
The iconic strawberry eating competition also attracted a large number of punters with the winning place hotly contested. Winning the senior section was Scott Bidois, 41, of Thornlands, consuming 150 grams of strawberries in 12 seconds. Runner up was Matthew Addicott, 39, of Cleveland eating the same weight in 20 seconds. Winning the junior section was Tamika Pettigrew, 12, of Capalaba who ate 100 grams of strawberries in 19 seconds with Jacob Nelson, 12, of Alexandra Hills gaining second place, consuming the same quantity in 28 seconds.
RedFest President Patrick Burke said it was the people and the community that made the festival a wonderful event.
It brings people here, whether they are participating or volunteering or coming for a look,” he said.
