The Chronicle (Toowoomba) - 10 March

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‘There’s no place like Toowoomba at Easter’<br>
That's Gospel

By Merryl Miller
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THERE is no better place to be than Toowoomba this long weekend.
With forecasts of sunny skies, a streetscape that hasn’t looked prettier in years and world-class entertainment to boot, it’s hard to imagine spending Easter anywhere else.
The Australian Gospel Music Festival will attract up to 50,000 visitors to Queens Park this weekend, but other events being staged in Toowoomba and district over Easter include the Australian Leader Sprintcar titles at Charlton Speedway, the Highfields Pioneer Park Easter Festival, the Mercedes-Benz car club rally and the Easter Gold Cup tennis tournament.
It’s enough to make a newly re-elected mayor very happy indeed.
“I don’t think there is any other place in Australia offering as much over Easter as Toowoomba — it doesn’t matter what the event is, they are all showcasing our city,’’ Cr Dianne Thorley said. “This is traditionally the time of year when families go to the beach, but I want Toowoomba to become known as the place you go for Easter.
“Australians are like lemmings — we always head for the coast — but I think there is a mountain- change happening and people want to come to places with great atmosphere and spirit like Toowoomba.’’
In complete agreement with Cr Thorley was Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce president and Australian Gospel Music Festival board chair Ian Andersen.
“The benefit of weekends such as this to Toowoomba can’t be measured,’’ Mr Andersen said. “We have created an event (the AGMF) which is one of the biggest staged in Australia over Easter, but which also has great long-term repercussions for Toowoomba businesses and the city’s reputation.
Toowoomba has the potential to become an events city.’’
Cr Thorley believes it is Toowoomba’s welcoming atmosphere and “feeling of well-being’’ that both attracts tourists and keeps them coming back, together with the appeal of the surrounding regions.

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Hills echo to Gospel beat

By Merryl Miller
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HE WON’T go so far as to say God is smiling on the Australian Gospel Music Festival, but the event’s co-ordinator does concede this year will be the biggest in its six-year history.
“Our pre-event sales are already 20% over our total sales from last year — that’s pretty significant,’’ Isaac Moody said.
“Thirty-one thousand people attended over three days in 2003, and injected $6.1 million into the local economy, so everything’s looking favourable for even better than that this year.
“The weather is fantastic, the grass is green, the organisation is under control, we have 130 highprofile international and Australian artists coming — it’s all smooth running.’’
Mr Moody said the AGMF was Australia’s fastest- growing musical event and had “really put Toowoomba on the map’’.
“The Toowoomba community has really embraced and accepted this event, and even though it promotes a Christian ethos, it is not a religious event.
“People know it’s not about Bible-bashing.’’ Figures show that 87% of people attending the AGMF return again the following year, indicating a very high satisfaction rating, according to Mr Moody.
“It is one of the biggest events happening in Australia over Easter,’’ he said. The festival began yesterday afternoon and will wrap up tomorrow evening.