Sunraysia plays host to many events throughout the calendar year, but this year there is a new kid in town. Welcome Mildura Beerfest. Event directors, Ian Burrows and Lee Garraway couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce the event to the region. Danielle Wilcock spoke with them about their landmark event and the inspiration for its establishment. Picture: Krystal Torney
FESTIVALS are always hotly anticipated and Mildura Beerfest is no exception.
Founding organisers Ian Burrows and Lee Garraway explain how it was a conversation almost a year ago that is responsible for the event’s inception.
“I thought (the Beerfest) would be a great idea and we got together to see if we could make to happen,” Lee explains.
Ian adds: “it wasn’t something I ever thought of doing but we’ve had a lot of fun doing it.”
Both are extremely pleased with how community interest has gained momentum over the past months.
“Everyone we’ve spoken to seems really keen about the Beerfest. It’s the kind of festival that I think Mildura will really embrace,” Ian says.
Lee echoes these sentiments.
“We have people coming all the way from Adelaide to the event, we have people coming up from Melbourne,” he says.
“It’s bringing people into the region, which is always fantastic.”
After owning other business ventures in the beverage industry, Ian holds relationships with brewers, wineries, distilleries and cideries right across Australia.
He also had prior experience of Beerfests held in the likes of Ballarat and Bendigo.
It’s his knowledge combined with Lee’s infectious enthusiasm that’s really driven the establishment of the event.
“I’ve been to a few other beer festivals and really enjoyed them,” Ian says.
“Lee had an idea of how he wanted it to run, but we’ve taken inspiration from other festivals and tried to make it work in with our town.”
The paperwork, the administration, the planning and the headaches all come part and parcel with organisation of any event.
Lee explains the many hoops they’ve had to jump through and boxes they’ve had to tick in order to pull the event off.
“There are lots of registration requirements and planning permits we’ve had to obtain as well as many council meetings we’ve attended,” he says.
“All vendors required Victorian RSAs, Certificates of Currency and Street Traders licences. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff to deal with.
It’s a lot of red tape to get through.
“We had to work out how all the vendors would set up and ensure they all were compliant with the requirements and set up their insurances.”
Both organisers are proud of the number of vendors they’ve secured for the event.
Despite having no predecessor to measure success off, nine brewers from NSW, Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria have all got on board, keen to exhibit their crafts.
Cideries were also keen to get involved. Rekorderlig will be showcasing its beverages, as well as local distilleries such as Fosseys and the Cellar Door.
Various local caterers will also be there to supply all festival goers with refreshments throughout the course of the day.
“We’re really happy with the vendors we’ve secured for the festival, one is coming all the way from WA,” Lee says.
A great venue is paramount to the success of an event. After careful deliberation, Sandilong Park was established as the perfect place to host Mildura’s first Beerfest.
“We decided on the racecourse because of its accessibility,” Lee says.
“It’s such a great venue. There are toilets and amenities for event-goers.
“The large grass areas mean that people can sit down and enjoy the weather, the beer and the live music.”
For all its appeal, it’s the festival’s adopted currency that is arguably the most exclusive and exciting feature. The Mildura Beerfest will be the first of its kind in Sunraysia to use such a unique means of payment.
“We’re using something called Festival Currency. It’s what they use in other festivals all over Australia,” Lee explains.
“Instead of using cash to buy the beverages and food inside the event, you just load up your wristband and scan it each time you purchase anything. If you need to top up there’s a top-up station. You can then scan your wristband to see how much you have left.
“Anything left on your wristband at the end of the day you simply log online and refund it to your chosen payment method.”
Despite being heavily focused on the showcasing of various alcoholic beverages, both Lee and Ian were keen to make the festival a family friendly event.
“Children are definitely welcome and families are encouraged to come along and make the most of the other attractions,” Lee explains.
“We have pig racing, a jumping castle and a mechanical bull.
“There’s live music throughout the day from some really great artists.
“We also have kids face painting and balloon twisting, as well as football kicking competitions that run throughout the day.”
When asked about their future aspirations for the event, both are undeniably keen for the festival to take off and become an integral part of the events calendar in Sunraysia.
“We hope the event goes really well and we are able to pull off another one bigger and better next year,” Ian says.
Lee’s aspirations are much the same.
“Ian’s been fantastic to work with and it’s been a hell of a lot of fun, so I’m looking forward to it. We would love to do it all again,” he says.
“I just want everyone to have a good time and enjoy the event. It’s a chance to have a day on the cans with your mates.”
Mildura’s inaugural Beerfest takes place on Saturday, November 30, on the lawns of Sandilong Park.
