Now the blue skies are above us it's hard to believe that our festival took place during one of the biggest downpours in 7 years.

However there were plenty of smiling faces amidst the rain and gale force winds. I think we all learnt valuable lessons during the extremely difficult conditions and as festival organisers, we hope you can all understand that we were so sorry that the event didn't reach its full potential.

A lot of people didn't get to witness what was going to be a magnificent main stage arena and the many other things planned for the festival site. Hundreds of hours spent creating art and installations that either were decimated in Friday nights gales or just didn't get put up because of them. Dances of Diversity were cancelled to accommodate headline acts inside because the main stage sound system was water damaged, our Indigenous space was torn apart by the storms and some of our Healing workshops and activities cancelled. Some very hard decisions had to be made about programming as circumstances changed, and we realise performers, presenters, volunteers and audience members were disappointed and disillusioned at times.

Regardless of all this, many of us have been touched by the experience, and overwhelmed by the expressions of concern, positive comments and support from all the people who hung in there. some even donating extra funds to help with the financial loss to our community.

Many people saw things from very different perspectives and whilst there were some criticisms, many of the changes that were made, were based on keeping the show going whilst keeping everyone as safe as possible, and able to leave the site on Sunday or Monday morning.

We lost many crew and volunteers due to the conditions, including simply running out of dry clothes, or waterlogged tents and bedding. However the remaining crew did everything they could to create a memorable festival experience. A big thank you to all our members, volunteers, stall holders, presenters and performers and especially our audience who truly did come together to create yet another wonderful festival experience, and witness some fantastic music and performance.

The visions of the bogged cars, sinking house boats and torn apart tents will hopefully fade, whilst all the smiling faces, kind words and hugs from friends old and new will endure I'm sure.

As the sun rises over a huge glass like lake, the reflections and shadows cast by the twisted frame of a shade tent may be all the inspiration needed to create something original and magical from what could be considered a tangled mess. Beauty can be found in most things if you choose to see it, however mother nature is the most creative and always has the final say.

Uncle C.

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