Announcement
The Rotary Club of Tamar Sunrise will not stage this year's Launceston Carols by Candlelight, having made the difficult decision to step away from coordinating the iconic fundraiser, after eight years at the helm.
An already tight event budget, combined with the additional infrastructure and resourcing costs required to ensure a COVID-safe community event, poses significant challenges.
This has given the Club time to reflect about the longer term.
Carols by Candlelight is held in Launceston's City Park each December, although COVID-19 restrictions saw last year's event cancelled.
Carols Chair and Club Secretary Danny Gibson said Carols by Candlelight was one of the most popular community events on Launceston's annual calendar, and the Club believed the event still had a strong future in new hands.
'It has been a really difficult decision for our Club, because organising Carols by Candlelight has been such a rewarding experience,' Mr Gibson said.
'However, it feels like the time is right for us to make the opportunity available to another community group or organisation to run it, given we are unable to stage the 2021 event.
'In 2013, after the departure of former organisers, our Club stepped up to take on the challenge of organising Launceston's Carols event.
'Our intention at the time was to do it for a year – and here we are eight years later.
'In that time we have held seven hugely successful Carols by Candlelight events. They have been supported by a host of corporate sponsors, hundreds of talented local performers and, most importantly, our community.'
Club President Eve Gibbons echoed Mr Gibson's words.
'Together with the community, we've raised more than $100,000 for The Examiner's annual Empty Stocking Appeal — funds that have made an enormous difference to Northern Tasmanian charities – and we've heralded the arrival of Christmas in Launceston for thousands of families,' she said.
'The Club now invites other Launceston community groups and organisations to consider taking the successful event on in future years, as we look to other projects and areas of focus.'
Mr Gibson said the Rotary Club of Tamar Sunrise stood ready to provide assistance to a new organising group.
'We think we demonstrated that we have a successful event model, willing corporate and public sponsors, and widespread community support, so our hope is that a new group will step forward to deliver future Carols events for Launceston,' he said.
'The Rotary Club of Tamar Sunrise would like to say a sincere thank you to the Northern Tasmanian community who have supported our event, and a thank you to every single person who has contributed to Carols over the past eight years.
'Thank you all.'
Mr Gibson said Launceston Carols by Candlelight would forever hold a special place in his heart.
'For me, personally, it has been a most amazing time in my life, at the helm of a most iconic event since 2013 and supported by an incredible team. That's what volunteering is all about – commitment and community – and our Launceston Carols had it all,' he concluded.
An already tight event budget, combined with the additional infrastructure and resourcing costs required to ensure a COVID-safe community event, poses significant challenges.
This has given the Club time to reflect about the longer term.
Carols by Candlelight is held in Launceston's City Park each December, although COVID-19 restrictions saw last year's event cancelled.
Carols Chair and Club Secretary Danny Gibson said Carols by Candlelight was one of the most popular community events on Launceston's annual calendar, and the Club believed the event still had a strong future in new hands.
'It has been a really difficult decision for our Club, because organising Carols by Candlelight has been such a rewarding experience,' Mr Gibson said.
'However, it feels like the time is right for us to make the opportunity available to another community group or organisation to run it, given we are unable to stage the 2021 event.
'In 2013, after the departure of former organisers, our Club stepped up to take on the challenge of organising Launceston's Carols event.
'Our intention at the time was to do it for a year – and here we are eight years later.
'In that time we have held seven hugely successful Carols by Candlelight events. They have been supported by a host of corporate sponsors, hundreds of talented local performers and, most importantly, our community.'
Club President Eve Gibbons echoed Mr Gibson's words.
'Together with the community, we've raised more than $100,000 for The Examiner's annual Empty Stocking Appeal — funds that have made an enormous difference to Northern Tasmanian charities – and we've heralded the arrival of Christmas in Launceston for thousands of families,' she said.
'The Club now invites other Launceston community groups and organisations to consider taking the successful event on in future years, as we look to other projects and areas of focus.'
Mr Gibson said the Rotary Club of Tamar Sunrise stood ready to provide assistance to a new organising group.
'We think we demonstrated that we have a successful event model, willing corporate and public sponsors, and widespread community support, so our hope is that a new group will step forward to deliver future Carols events for Launceston,' he said.
'The Rotary Club of Tamar Sunrise would like to say a sincere thank you to the Northern Tasmanian community who have supported our event, and a thank you to every single person who has contributed to Carols over the past eight years.
'Thank you all.'
Mr Gibson said Launceston Carols by Candlelight would forever hold a special place in his heart.
'For me, personally, it has been a most amazing time in my life, at the helm of a most iconic event since 2013 and supported by an incredible team. That's what volunteering is all about – commitment and community – and our Launceston Carols had it all,' he concluded.
