Cooroy Fusion will be an annual community festival

The resounding success of Cooroy Fusion has been followed with calls from the community to host the event on an annual basis.

Cooroy Fusion was big. Up to 2,000 people attended the all day community event at Mill Place on Saturday 21 May to help celebrate the first birthday of Cooroy Library. There wasn’t a car park to be found in Cooroy as people flocked to the library, Butter Factory Arts Centre and Lower Mill site.

Division 12 Councillor Lew Brennan said at every turn on the precinct there was an activity or workshop occurring.

"There were rides, market stalls, great food and non-stop entertainment," Cr Brennan said.

"The great turn-out and support from the community combined with the success of the non-stop entertainment and diverse range of activities for all age groups has cemented Cooroy Fusion as a yearly celebration."

The Gubbi Gubbi dancers were a highlight, providing an unforgettable cultural experience through their magical presentation of song and dance.

Folk singer and songwriter, Ayla Scanlon from Noosa Christian College wasn’t deterred by rain showers and her dulcet tones ranged movingly through the amphitheatre.

Performers from Noosa District High School entertained the crowds with a side-slapping Monty Python comic skit. The school band played whilst the drama group enacted a physical theatre piece using costume suits and balloons to great effect. The library’s first birthday cake was shared amongst the crowds to the tunes of ‘Happy Birthday’ from the Pomona Choir.

In the Fitness and Wellbeing area there was a squatting competition hosted by The Workout Shed. Tai Chi and yoga demonstrations complemented the fast pace of Cooroy Gymnastics Club with their running, tumbling and jumping skills.

Local and national authors including Antoinette O’Conner, Ann Rickard, Annette Hughes, Ange Taktis and Jackie Hellwig intrigued the crowds with their personal stories and anecdotes about the joys and sorrows of writing.

It was the Rooftop venue that really had the party jumping with a ‘killer’ performance by local singer songwriter Asa Broomhall. Asa is an internationally renowned rock, folk and blues performer and it was his first time playing to a Cooroy audience. It was also an opportunity for new and emerging music artists to strut their stuff on the main stage with a mix of hip hop and rock tunes.

Cooroy Library’s Liz Bleechmore – who coordinated the event – conveyed her gratitude to the sponsors of Cooroy Fusion.

"This wonderful community event happened because of the generous support of Sunshine Coast Council, Bendigo Bank, Cooroy Rag and Cooroy Chamber of Commerce," she said.

The annual Cooroy Fusion community celebration will certainly be an event on the Cooroy calendar not to be missed.