Fireworks in Ulverstone

25 May 2008

The night after 'Cracker Night', the Anglican Parish of Ulverstone put on a free Fireworks Event for the community of Ulverstone. It was our first attempt at such an event, so we weren't quite sure what to expect, nor how well the community would receive it. We got our permit and members of the Parish chipped in extra donations to buy the fireworks. The officers and staff of Central Coast Council were very helpful in pushing through applications to use ANZAC Park and coming up with keys and so on. Tasmania Police and the Fire Service got behind the event and St. John Ambulance attended.

On the night, the Lord was very gracious, and the rain held off until after the show. We had expected possibly 60 - 80 people might turn up, but were warned to expect more like 200 to 500 - hence our desire to make sure of a Police presence, etc. As it turned out, some estimated around 1200 in attendance, with people in the park, up the bank, on the bridge and across the river! We put on soup and hot drinks in the Parish Centre afterwards, not really expecting many to come back, once the fireworks were over. As it happened, around 80 to 100 came, including lots of unfamiliar faces, kids and families.

The Advocate Newspaper provided us with lots of pre-publicity. Since the event, there have been two Letters to the Editor from community members, thanking the church for their gift, as well as a letter from a Central Coast Councillor to the Church, congratulating us on the initiative and suggesting avenues of Council funding that would be available to help with next year's event. We don't think we would be allowed not to stage it again. Then again, with the great 'currency' with the local community such a simple event has brought us, the church family are all keen to do it again, anyway!

John Tongue
Rector, Holy Trinity Ulverstone.

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