Keynote presentations by Robert Masterson of Ripley Entertainment/IAAPA; Greg Shaw of the Macquarie Leisure Trust; Marshall Vann, MFS Living and Leisure; Todd Coates, Bridgelcimb Sydney; Craig Lovett, Cleanevent; Bryn Skilbeck, Moomba Waterfest; and Bill Coleby, Coleby Consulting; provided an outstanding first day to the conference sessions.

“The high level of speakers and the content of the programme was one of the best that I have experienced in attending conferences over the past 17 years,” remarked Andrew Cole from the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. “It was also great to see the trade show back again.”

Main conference sessions on day two included the groundbreaking development in ticketing technology, presented by Mark Iles and Michael A Turner of Gateway Ticketing, and two very informative sessions, one on media crisis management by Neil McLean and another on how to write a hazard and risk assessment by Bill Coleby. Day two also included dedicated forums for operators of indoor play, go-karting and transportable rides. These sessions proved very beneficial to all who participated.

“The camaraderie and willingness of other industry operators to share in their experience made this a memorable and inspiring conference for me,” highlighted John B Grant of Granties Maze.

Other highlights included educational site tours of major South East Queensland attractions including Warner Bros Movie World, White Water World, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Kingston Park Raceway.

The AALARA conference committee is keen extend its thanks to all delegates and guests whose pledged money at the Camp Quality auction, which raised AUS$11,931 (€7,500/$9,960) for children whose lives are affected by cancer-related illnesses.

Plans are already underway for next year’s event, which will take place again in May on the Gold Coast.

New AALARA president

During the association’s annual general meeting on May 15, Michael Collins handed over the position of AALARA president to Stan Durkin (pictured here with wife Carol).

Director of Durkin Amusement, Stan has been involved full time in the carnival industry for the past 40 years. His entry into the business came working with his father in the early 1960s, when his family operated a small portable Ferris Wheel.

He since expanded the business to become one of the major operators of mobile carnival equipment in Australia, taking in the Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Royal Shows. In the 1980s Stan opened and operated a small amusement park in Canberra before selling it in 1989.

“I am looking forward to my role as president during this period of growth for AALARA and overseeing the roll out of training and education workshops in 2008,” remarks Stan. “AALARA will also focus its activity in the short term on the drafting of a new Australian standard for indoor play and the drafting of an standard specifically relating to go karting industry.”

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