Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This month saw the 39th Port Fairy Folk Festival take place in my electorate of Wannon. The Port Fairy Folk Festival is one of the jewels in the calendar of events along the south-west coast of Victoria, drawing music lovers from across the world. The first festival was held in December 1977, charging about 400 fans $3 a ticket and with eight acts. This year, the 'Folkie' saw over 30,000 people drawn to Port Fairy to enjoy over 100 acts and stalls—15,000 of those pre-paying ticket holders. This year saw famous Irish act Sinead O'Connor take a lead role in entertaining locals and visitors. Some of the locals described this year's festival as 'a brilliant feast for the ears and eyes'. One of the visiting acts noted, 'It is rare to see a festival embraced so wholeheartedly by its local community.'

I congratulate the organisers of this fantastic event, in particular Dr Jamie McKew, the festival's founder and continuing director. I look forward to 2016, the 40th year of the festival, and I invite all present in the chamber today, both in the gallery and all MPs, to come down to the 'Folkie' next year to help celebrate the 40th edition of the festival.