By Sonia Isaacs
CHALLENGES in securing major event sponsorship, together with ongoing global economic uncertainty, have prompted Rotary Maleny to postpone the 2026 Maleny Wood Expo to October 2027.
The Rotary Club of Maleny, which now manages the long‑running event, says sponsors and potential visitors are pulling back amid a tightening economy and caution around discretionary spending and travel.
Rotary Maleny will continue to manage and develop the Maleny Wood Expo over the extended lead‑in period, with a view to delivering a stronger, more secure event in 2027.
Bruce Kelly, a member of the management team of the Maleny Wood Expo and a director of Rotary Maleny, said the club had weighed up multiple pressures before making the call to postpone.
He said the combination of economic uncertainty, fuel concerns and a lack of firm sponsorship commitments had created too much risk to proceed in 2026.
“The major influences were really the economic situation and the fact that sponsorship money from private industry was not forthcoming, and equally from council and state government,” Mr Kelly said.
“Many of the companies we spoke with were simply too uncertain about where the economy is going to feel comfortable committing funds right now.”
Mr Kelly said the club had also been closely watching conditions in the broader tourism and events sector.
“Tourist and bus operators in the Sunshine Coast region have reported that their numbers are down and don’t expect them to lift for some time,” he said.
“In that environment, we had to be realistic about potential ticket sales and the risk of running an event that couldn’t cover its costs.”
Ongoing concerns about fuel supply and prices have added another layer of uncertainty, with organisers wary that people may cut back on regional travel if they are not confident about fuel availability or costs.
The Maleny Wood Expo has a long history of support from the Sunshine Coast Council and from state tourism and events bodies.
However, with Rotary Maleny now managing the Expo after taking over from previous organisers Barung Landcare, Mr Kelly said some funding bodies have treated it as a “new event” and declined to provide sponsorship for this year.
Mr Kelly explained that the decision to postpone was taken to protect the long‑term viability and quality of the event.
“We didn’t want to risk delivering a compromised Expo,” he said.
“By postponing to October 2027, we give ourselves the time we need to secure appropriate sponsorship, rebuild confidence and ensure the Maleny Wood Expo remains the high‑quality experience people expect.”
“Rotary Maleny will continue to manage the Maleny Wood Expo and will continue to build the event for 2027,” he said.
“Our goal is to come back stronger, with an Expo that does justice to the community and to the region’s woodworking heritage.”
When contacted by GC&M News, a Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson confirmed previous custodians Barung Landcare, which delivered the Maleny Wood Expo for 25 years, had received support through Council’s Major Events Sponsorship Program over a number of those years.
“The Rotary Club of Maleny is seeking to re-establish the Maleny Wood Expo and has been awarded a $7,500 major grant through Council’s Community Grants Program,” the spokesperson said.
“Council also continues to offer support through other non-monetary avenues.”
