The Abbey Medieval Festival has won the Festivals and Events section at the inaugural Moreton Bay and Islands Tourism Awards.
The week-long event held at Caboolture in July last year, which culminated in the two-day Medieval Tournament, impressed a panel of industry experts. Entrants were assessed on a 30-page questionnaire and site visits.
The category was open to events that created a substantial economic impact within their community, attracted visitors from elsewhere in the state and/or interstate, generated a regional media profile and promoted the destination.
The Moreton Bay Regional Council Tourism Volunteer Group won the Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or a Volunteer Group. Bribie Island business Ferryman Cruises was a finalist in the Transport Operators section. MBITA winners can submit entries to the Tourism Queensland Awards announced in November.
Meanwhile, the Bribie Seaside Museum helped Moreton Bay win eight of the 12 regional categories in the 2010 Ergon Energy Tidy Towns Regional Awards.
The $2.7 million museum, which only opened in May this year, won the Paradise & Bishopp Outdoor Advertising Heritage Award.
Councillor Gary Parsons (Div.1) said the award recognised “commitment to the preservation, conservation and celebration of history, heritage and culture and I think that criteria describes our new museum perfectly’‘.
“The fact that the museum is already carving out an enviable reputation and winning awards is testament to the combined efforts of the local community, volunteers and council,’’ he said.
Caboolture’s St Paul’s Lutheran Primary School was also among the award winners, taking out theRACQ Litter Prevention Award.
Deputy Mayor Greg Chippendale said students and staff at St Paul’s deserved congratulations.
“St Paul’s College identified a litter problem and the Year 7 students jumped on board Moreton Bay Regional Council’s School Waste Minimisation Program,’’ he said.
“Students helped conduct an audit of the school’s waste and took a hands-on investigation of waste and recycling practices.
“Their efforts which included a litter-free lunch trial day considerably reduced the amount of waste the school sent to landfill.’‘
Council is now helping the school establish a composting collection program and it’s also looking at opportunities to expand its recycling activities.
Source: Caboolture Shire Herald
