Page 23 - Port Douglas Magazine 40

history.

Carnivale - Celebrating 30 years

THE PARTY

THAT STOPS

THE REGION

Once upon a time in the tropical paradise of Far North Queensland, there was a sleepy little town named
Port Douglas. It was a place where the sun kissed the golden sands for miles, and the Great Barrier Reef
waved hello just offshore. In the early days, Port Douglas was more of a best-kept secret than a bustling hub
of excitement. The town was one built on sharing its natural beauty with visitors, but there was only a small
pocket of time throughout the year that the visitors came. Some of the locals, in their wisdom, decided that
to attract more visitors throughout the year, this picturesque haven needed a dash of colour, a sprinkle of
laughter, and a whole lot of festivity.

WORDS by Sharon Timms
This story begins, as many great tales do, with a group of friends sitting and Anderson (Port Douglas Events), Wendy Morris (Port Douglas founding
sipping on their favourite beverages, dreaming up wild ideas. One brave soul family), Kerrie Jamieson (Marina Mirage Operations Manager and Proprietor),
suggested, “Why not throw a party that’s as vibrant as the coral reefs we’re so and Michael Gabour (Coconut Grove). These meetings were held at the
famous for?” And so, in a stroke of brilliance, they birthed the idea of an annual original Coconut Grove, and while event creation was certainly at the forefront
extravaganza that would attract all the visitors in all the lands, and go down in of business, it was sometimes felt the real main interest was the finger food that
history as the quirkiest, funniest, and downright most lovable celebration the was always served by Michael Gabour – there was a riot if meetings ever went
region had ever seen. hungry, and Mike’s spring rolls have since gone down into legendary status.
This first idea of a community carnival was originally conceived by Mike And thus, the Port Douglas Carnivale was born. The inaugural event, held
Burgess from Quicksilver Connections alongside Moss Hunt from Silky Oaks. from 28 May to 5 June 1994, was an incredible bells-and-whistles community-
The initial plan was to stage a seven-day yacht race from Port Douglas to Lizard driven affair, featuring the Four Mile Beach Day, outrigger races, horse races
Island with a wild party held before and after to celebrate the competition. along Four Mile Beach, an evening beach party with a few street performers, a
While the original plan didn’t eventuate because they realised winds at that makeshift parade of decorated floats (some more seaworthy than others), and
time of the year weren’t exactly conducive to yacht racing, the plans for a wild an epic spaghetti-eating competition. There are people who attended this event
party went ahead. Of course. who, to this day, still cannot look at spaghetti bolognaise.
To keep things on track, a steering committee was formed comprising of local There was a photographic exhibition, ‘A Day in the Life of Port Douglas’, at
business owner-operators including John Pike (tourism mogul), Barry and Di the Radisson Royal Palms, a Roman Orgy at the Clink Theatre, and a tennis
McGinn (The Whitehouse), Bob Milgate (Garrick House), Donna and Peter clinic and ‘Playoff With The Pros’. The calibre of the tennis professionals