MEDIA RELEASE Friday 7 August 2009
PACIFIC TOYOTA CONTINUES TO DRIVE FESTIVAL SUPPORT
Saturday 22 August - and one day into Festival Cairns 2009 – will ‘bring it’ to Cairns community with Pacific Toyota’s Grand Parade. As one of the top six highlights of Festival Cairns’ 2009 program, the parade is expected to draw crowds in their thousands, lining the esplanade for the annual procession through the streets. Pacific Toyota will lead the charge along a new route from Munro Martin Park to the Esplanade and south to Fogarty Park – transporting the gorgeous and talented country music super star, Tania Kernaghan.
Some things change…and some stay the same! With a recent change of ownership and a new format afoot for Festival Cairns, Pacific Toyota’s high level involvement as major sponsor was never assumed. Festival Cairns coordinator, Belinda Griffin is pleased to announce that the car dealership’s support will live on as naming right’s sponsor of event highlight, the Grand Parade.
According to Belinda Griffin, Festival Cairns event coordinator, the name, ‘Pacific Toyota’ has always been synonymous with Festival Cairns – over the past seven years, joining Cairns Regional Council to take on a major sponsorship role of Festival Cairns and other community events. Now, under new ownership, Pacific Toyota is back on the program, better than ever, with new owner, Greg Eastment picking up the reins of community support.
“We are absolutely thrilled to announce Pacific Toyota’s high level involvement will continue as a major sponsor with naming rights to program highlight, the Grand Parade.”
And to celebrate, Australia’s country music star, Tania Kernaghan will visit Cairns to participate in this year’s Grand Parade. As guest of Pacific Toyota, Tania will ride on the back of Pacific Toyota’s Hilux (pimped for the Grand Parade) ute while her songs are played to the crowd via an impressive speaker system.
Attracting crowds of more than 35,000, the Pacific Toyota Grand Parade is one of Festival Cairns’ most highly anticipated free, family-fun events. This year, the popular event has been repositioned in the program to open Festival Cairns with a bang as the first of many highlights.
Just as the sun goes down, the lights come on and spectators in their thousands will line
the Esplanade for the beginning of the energetic procession of spectacular floats.
FREE Parking is provided at Lake Street parking station as well as the old Graft n Arts car park in Grafton Street (just up from City Cinemas).
This year promises even more amazing floats as Scott Maidment and his team who are responsible for Adelaide’s Fringe Festival parade are providing creative direction for the Grand Parade. Scott is conducting free workshops for parade participants to help create their entries.
A major creative collaboration between artists, community groups and local businesses will ensure the procession conveys the theme of Telling Our Stories. The Grand Parade will be the community’s chance to shine, while celebrating life in Cairns, its natural heritage and idyllic tropical lifestyle.
As the last float passes through the finish line, the excitement will hit fever pitch as fireworks explode and emblazon the night sky.
Tania Kernaghan Edited Biography- 2009
It’s no secret that Tania Kernaghan is one of Australia’s most successful and instantly recognizable artists in Country Music. Her record sales are in the hundreds of thousands and chart success that is matched by her reputation as one of Australia’s best live acts. From Broome to Bourke, Darwin to Devonport and from Coober Pedy to Cairns – Tania Kernaghan’s career continues to build from strength to strength and the fans just can’t get enough of this all Australian country girl.
In 1993 Tania caught the attention of ABC Country and released her first single, “I’ll Be Gone”, which was co-written by her younger sister Fiona and featured Keith Urban on guitar. She officially signed with ABC Country in 1995 and in January 1996 delivered the triumphant debut, “December Moon”. The album went platinum, spawned a massive six hit singles and earned Tania three Golden Guitars. “December Moon” is one of the most successful country debut albums ever released in Australia and continues to sell strongly even over a decade later.
The follow up, “Dancing On Water”, arrived in 1999 and included the Top 5 hits “Dunroamin Station” and “When I Ride”. “Big Sky Country” was released in 2001 featuring “Steal Away” and “Goin’ Bush” while her fourth album, “Higher Ground”, landed in 2005 featuring the revved up “Harley McTaggart” and the #1 hit “Life Don’t Get Much Better Than This” which stayed at the top spot for 4 weeks.
2009 looks set to be another big year for Tania with the release of her highly anticipated 5th studio album, “Livin’ The Dream”. Officially released on 28th February 2009, the album was recorded between Nashville and QLD’s Gold Coast. The album boasts a who’s who of the best musicians in the world along with world class songs and impeccably produced by Tania’s brother in law, Daniel Kresco (Reba McEntire/Garth Brooks/Trisha Yearwood). The first single, “Second Time Around”, has been embraced by media proclaiming it as ‘one of Tania’s best yet!’
This year Tania made her big screen film debut in the movie, “Shadows of The Past”, which premiered in May 2009.
Besides music and on screen work, in 1999 Tania accepted the honour of becoming Vice Patron to the Riding For Disabled Association (a title shared by Princess Ann in the UK). RDA adopted Tania’s award winning song, “When I Ride”, as their national theme song. She has also been an Australia Day Ambassador, People’s Choice Award recipient for Female Vocalist in 2000 and 2006 and was the first female performer to be inducted into the Galaxy of Stars Country Music Walk of Fame in Tamworth in 2005.
Application Forms to join the Grand Parade are on the Cairns Regional Council’s website www.cairns.qld.gov.au or contact Caress Creed on 4044 3594 or c.creed@cairns.qld.gov.au for more details.
For more information go to www.festivalcairns.com.au
As event manager of Festival Cairns 2009, Cairns Regional Council gratefully acknowledges the support of major sponsors Arts Queensland, Queensland State Government, Ergon Energy and Pacific Toyota. This year’s theme, “Telling our Stories” will roll out over 16, action-packed days between Friday 21 August and Sunday 6 September 09.
Ends
For more information:
Belinda Griffin, Festival Cairns Coordinator
T: 07 4044 3593 M: 0407 966 530 E: festival@cairns.qld.gov.au
www.cairns.qld.gov.au
Issued by:
Pip Miller PR
T: 07 4032 4400 M: 0419 681543 E: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
www.pipmillerpr.com.au
For information and Interviews – Tania Kernaghan:
Karen Waters, Red Rebel Music
P: 0418 614 359 E: karen@redrebelmusic.com