Committees announce the popular community event will call it quits after 25 years
By Kirra Livingstone
BARUNG Landcare and the Maleny Wood Expo committees have pulled the pin on the iconic hinterland event after a 25-year run, citing mounting financial pressures and dwindling volunteer resources.
The decision was announced to the public via Facebook on Thursday, June 5.
The decision follows the earlier cancellation of the 2024 expo.
Barung Landcare president, Barbara Kelly, said the decision, finalised at a committee meeting in May was “very hard for the committee to make.”
“There’s a great sense of disappointment, and I guess we just all wish that we could have somehow done it,” Ms Kelly said.
“I spent about six months following up on a lot of leads, trying to get enough in person support and financial support as well.
It wasn’t a quick decision, it was an informed decision after a lot of work to try and keep it going, we’re all feeling a bit shell shocked.”
Ms Kelly said the committee ultimately had to choose between continuing the expo or focusing on Barung Landcare’s core environmental work.
First held in 1996, the expo attracted thousands of exhibitors, stallholders and visitors over the years.
“We’re just incredibly thankful for the support over the years, a show is not a show without the people who support you,” Ms Kelly said.
“We’re grateful people have come along, they’ve picked it up and run with it, and made it a really amazing and unique event.
We also want to give a big thank you to Steve McLeish, he’s been our event organiser since 2008, he’s been highly instrumental in making sure everything ran smoothly and maintained relationships with exhibitors.”
While Barung Landcare will no longer host the event, Ms Kelly called on any organisation willing to take over the reins.
“We haven’t had any interest yet, but I would hope there might be someone out there, but it might require a group of people or new organisation to run it,” she said.
“I think the community would be very excited if someone else could take it on.”
Interested parties can contact Ms Kelly via info@malenywoodexpo.com.
kirra@gcnews.com.au
