The Festival of King Island committee felt relieved as the weather forecast for the Festival of King Island weekend was as predicted.

The sun shone, the few clouds passed over Currie Harbour and only a slight breeze picked up going into the Friday and Saturday nights. Young and older enjoyed the view from the hill and mixed it up in the mosh pit.

“FOKI 2024 was a happy positive experience,” Festival of King Island president Kim George said.

“There was a great festival mood and artists, community, and visitors, by all reports had a great time and there weren’t any concerning behaviours.

“This was our tenth FOKI and while the numbers are still being crunched, I would say that the ticket sales were as good as last year.

“The artists once again are giving us fantastic feedback. We have delivered on our promise of ‘good times.’

“Their feedback gives us the confidence to know that we have the formula right and that’s what keeps the festival unique.

“All have time to absorb, explore, sit back, and take it easy, mix with other performers and share their stories and importantly mix in with the locals.

“Time and time again the artists comment on the openness and friendliness of the island and that FOKI is a great, well-organised fun event,” he said.

Sabine Gabauer and Ben Patton supported by helpers made the Green Room a home away from home with a King Island country feel with island produce favourites and community donated home prepared culinary delights.

 The bar served local Brewhouse beers. The mammoth task of keeping the crowds fed and watered throughout the festival was taken up by the K&K Mobile food truck, Jai Freeman and the View Dining team in the Lions Food Van, Holey Donuts, Mike Fraser with his woodfire “Decent Pizzas” and ably assisted by Leon (Hollywood Jack Barnes), Macropod Coffee, and the King Island Leo’s kept the younger festival goers happy.  All needed to engage teams to keep the food lines moving quickly and at prices festival goers could afford.

The annual pie-eating competition, sponsored by the King Island Bakehouse, was won by Tom Graham – his third successive win, even after receiving a six-second handicap. The introduction of the kids’ DJZ session on Saturday morning was appreciated by parents and kids alike.

The setup is always a big effort the week before the festival as the whole infrastructure needs to be put in place at Currie Harbour.

“The setup crew did a fantastic job. Rolling green grass is turned into a festival site with stages, marquees, sound, lighting, staging, bar, food vendors, power, water … in a matter of days. It’s a small, dedicated team and it would be great to have a few more hands,” Mr George said.

“We must give a big thanks to Greg Morris who year in and year out has supplied those big hay bales to give us site protection and this year hay bales are like gold.

“The crews start early and bump out of the site is all done on Sunday, starting early, so a giant thanks to Sharon Frosi who kept the Macropod van on site and provided toasties and the coffee coming.

“This was the first time we engaged security, and it was pleasing that they were relaxed and that the police also felt it was a great, well-run event.”

There are some kid-size hoodies still available, T-shirts and hats which can be purchased at the Post Office. Give it a few days, a bit of sleep and planning for FOKI 2025 begins.

The official commencement of construction of the Currie Lighthouse precinct’s new Hub multipurpose complex was marked by the turning of the sod by Senator Anne Urquhart and Premier Jeremy Rockliff.

They joined Mayor Marcus Blackie and project lead Brett Torossi in speaking to a small number of stakeholder guests in the Hub’s annex.after the site was declared shovel-ready.

This area is in the former general manager’s house in Lighthouse St and is incorporated into the overall Hub design.

The new Hub building will be constructed alongside the existing track between the museum and the lighthouse.

The King Island Hub project is a $5M construction project funded by the Community Development Grants Program.

The design and construction of the Hub includes a visitor information and community lounge with free WiFi, co-working space, small meeting/training rooms, a business services area, an online access centre, a gallery shop, multi-purpose space for meetings and events, with public toilet and shower facilities on site. Additional space will also be available to include the Currie Library, subject to agreement with Libraries Tas.

 It is proposed that the King Island Regional Development Organisation and the King Island Gallery relocate to the new building and a King Island Study Hub is under discussion.

The grant also provides for an emergency evacuation, distribution and recovery centre for the Island at the Town Hall by installing shower facilities and reconfiguring the entrance to the building.

“On behalf of all King Islanders, I express our deep gratitude to the federal and  state governments – as well as, and not forgetting, Australian taxpayers – for this game changing grant investment in King Island,” Mayor Blackie said.

“The Hub project speaks volumes about our aspirations and the bold ambitions we hold for our future here on King Island, Tasmania. We are inspiring the investment and development to make it happen.

“I see The Hub as potentially so many things we need, a conference venue, convention centre, training and function venue, community information centre that will be used by locals and tourists alike.

“It is exciting that we see such versatility in this new facility and other uses we’ll discover down the track.

“I acknowledge the years of work done by our council team, the project control group, designers and unprecedented community consultation to get us here today.”

As Clare Bell’s exhibition Beautiful, Ordinary Things closed, a new exhibition started in mid-January.

The King Island Gallery at Currie Harbour has a print series from the King Island Council collection on display by renowned two-time Glover-winning Australian printmaker Raymond Arnold.

The 2024 exhibition calendar may have some date shifts but mark your diary for the coming events.

Beginning tomorrow and runing until March 10, Culture on King is a curated audio-visual medley with a focus on people and their cultural pursuits.

Hear stories about life on King Island told through recordings, video, transcripts and supplemented with cultural artefacts including the King Island Museum’s King Island Quilt wall hanging.

Birds, Migratory, Endangered and Others will be on show from March 22 to May 5. The gallery’s focus through March and April is on birds, including a large-scale installation from Kate Gorringe Smith, BirdLife photographic award winners, a small local artists’ exhibition and an invitation to fill the gallery shop with bird-themed works.

The independent Moonbird Festival production, founded and directed by the Bowerbird Collective, returns from April 18-21, celebrating King Island. This event brings together some of Australia’s finest musicians for a series of spellbinding concerts with music, art, food and wine.

Dogs of King Island (DOKI),  will run from June 1 to July 14, bringing an all-inclusive, fun community event and exhibition dedicated to the dogs of King Island.

This celebration of our furry friends is open to all ages and art forms, with prizes and activities. Artworks can include sculpture, stop motion, painting, drawing, printmaking, photographic, video, wearables, jewellery, knitting, embroidery, and textiles.

September welcomes Time Place Space (September 1 -30), a major exhibition showcasing a selection of artists’ work from around Australia, seeded over the past three years by the King Island Artist Residency Program.

Time Place Space will be a month-long exhibition and installation of contemporary painting, photography, video, mixed media, textile and prints alongside projection installations, performative work and poetry. Community events led by participating artists will include practical workshops, talks and popups.

Then in November we have Getting the Drift (Nov 1 to Dec 1), an exhibition of work by video artist Noelene Lucas,  who was selected from the gallery’s 2024 Expressions of Interest callout.

This video installation incorporates ideas and images from Lucas’ 2023 artist residency, including multi-screen projection works incorporating photographs of birds by Lucas and local photographers.

An exhibition by a local artist, selected from the 2024 Expressions of Interest callout, will be shown from December 6 to January 31, 2025.

TASMANIAN Premier Jeremy Rockliff has pledged to prevent the closure of the iconic King Island Dairy.

During a visit to the island last week, the premier confirmed that he would not let King Island Dairy cease to exist.

“That won’t happen. Not on my watch,” he said.

The Premier confirmed that there is interest in the King Island Dairy business and said that while the Government is not a party to discussions, it would certainly be supportive of a business that may need secondary assistance, whether that be in the form of infrastructure improvements, upgrades or other.

The future of the King Island Dairy is uncertain as global dairy giant Saputo Inc reviews its operation.

Saputo Dairy Australia plans to maintain regular operations at King Island Dairy as it decides its future.

One option is selling the business.

 While shipping and freight issues still plague the island Mr Rockliff made no announcements or new promises.

Mr Rockliff said the Tasmanian Government was committed to ensuring ambulance and SES volunteers have access to appropriate facilities.

“We have undertaken a feasibility study to help identify the most suitable location for a new ambulance station on King Island,” Mr Rockliff said.

The study is currently being assessed and I look forward to having more to say following the completion of that process.

King Island is well served by nearly 60 volunteers across the TFS and SES.

“Our Government has committed $10 million to upgrade volunteer facilities across Tasmania.

“The allocation of this funding will be needs- and risks-based and is in its final stages of assessments.

“This includes consideration of minor asset replacement and maintenance upgrades at all four TFS facilities on King Island, and potentially more substantial works should prioritisation support this.”

The Premier anticipates more progress as the local economy grows and a buildup in investment that is infrastructure-enabling.

Looking around the King Island Golf and Bowling Club and the new extensions and refurbishments, the  Premier appeared impressed and noted that the State Government had helped financially.

Mr Rockliff enjoyed a sausage roll from the bakehouse, chatted with locals in the street and had casual meet and greets with tourism and event operators as well as meeting with Mayor Marcus Blackie and farmers to talk about drought relief among other issues.

He was enthusiastic about the Hub and the building of island infrastructure for future generations and focused on brand King Island.

“King Island has the best of iconic Tasmania all wrapped up in one place,” Mr Rockliff said.

“There’s the wildness and scenery, the coastal, agriculture and produce, golf, tourism growth and the pristine environment.”

LABOR Member for Braddon and Deputy Leader  Anita Dow described her visit to King Island and meeting with Mayor Marcus Blackie as forming a “partnership with local government, to know what’s needed and to find out what is needed on the ground”.

Much of the visit focused on the health needs of the island.

“Labor plans to invest in district hospitals in Tasmania and to establish services closer to home where there is chronic illness and aging,” Ms Dow said.

“Labor has announced a $6.5m fund to add or meet additional infrastructure needs.

“My meetings have included talking to community members to improve medical services on the island.

“I have heard from Islanders that they have PTAS issues, particularly around allied health services.

“Other issues are attracting and retaining health practitioners to the island.

“We are looking at more incentives to make rural and remote practice a more attractive long-term career option for doctors and nurse practitioners, and the need for island paramedics.”

The Department of Health is still recruiting for the role of Director of Nursing at the King Island Hospital.

Having visited King Island earlier in the month for the King Island racing season, Labor Senator Anne Urquhart was back on the Island last week to mark the opening of the King Island Hub by turning the sod and concentrate on island issues.  The North-West based Senator has a keen interest in King Island and she said that there were key matters that she wanted to fully understand.

“I am aware of the drought conditions that farmers are facing on the island, and I met with them to ensure they knew of the federal and state drought relief programs,” she said.

“I also wanted to discuss the call for submissions by the Department of Environment around threatened species King Island Scrub Complex clearing. I understand that submitting is not the easiest and I wanted to find out where I can best help them.

“I also want to fully understand the King Island shipping issues and in particular what is needed for a safe harbour in Grassy.  It’s important that this is looked at – there is an opportunity right now to use the mine overburden, and this could increase efficiency, and allow more and bigger ships to come to King Island and with the mine developing, there’s the potential for opening up more opportunities.

“I’ve also had talks about worker accommodation, the difficulties of getting workers to the island, and aviation – a lot of discussions on the island to understand what King Island and King Islanders need.

“As a federal politician, I can connect a few different angles, and in different ways.

“I can connect with the right people, network, advise and directly bring the island’s needs to the right people to get things done.”

Southern Airlines Fly-in Day on Saturday was the last day of the 2024 King Island Racing Club race season. It was an eight thoroughbred and harness race meet.

The misty rain didn’t deter racegoers, golfers and charters from around Australia on overnight and weekend tours, who came to experience King Island Racing and hospitality with the Southern Airlines marquee, featuring local produce.

The Southern Airlines Galloping Plate (2600m) was won by Lindrum trainer Jim Taylor, jockey Hannah Le Blanc, while Squazeemoto liked the 1000m for Tammy Muir and jockey Codi Jordan in the McKenzie Clarke Memorial Class B Handicap.

Squazeemoto was this season’s KIRC Galloping Horse of the Year.

The Galloping Trainer of the Year award went to Robert ‘Kodge’ Keys and the Galloping Jockey of the Year was Codi Jordan. The Pacing Horse of the Year went to Lou Lous Allgold, Pacing Trainer of the Year was Tammy Langley and Dylan Ford was awarded Pacing Driver of the Year.

The KIRC has survived another season with the support of the mainland Group 1 thoroughbred trainers and imported horses known as the Miners Rest Crew (MRC), and NSW trainer Bill Hayes and his imports.

The island sporting clubs benefited greatly, sharing in the winnings and MRC fundraising events. Tourism and local businesses also shared in the stables’ online promotion, engagement, media momentum and awareness of King Island racing.

 “The success of the race meet’s support from mainlanders will change the long-term fortunes of racing on the island,” McEvoy Mitchell Racing’s Tony McEvoy told RSN racing media at the end of last season.

“King Island Racing can only survive if used by bigger jurisdictions to ‘blood’ new talent.”

He reiterated this sentiment after the running of the previous week’s running of the Miners Rest Cup and indicated that the training group will continue to support the King Island summer racing season and believed that by offering bigger winning purses other trainers will want to become involved. McEvoy suggested the “seven-meet summer carnival required ongoing – maybe greater – financial support from TasRacing”.

Local trainers have expressed gratitude for the support received but concerns remain around the sustainability of Island racing with retirements, low horse numbers and diminishing interest. One trainer suggested that the island should consider a different model where there are fewer race days or feature picnic meets.

The sod was turned at the King Island Hub in the Currie Lighthouse precinct yesterday – the culmination of five years work to see the commencement of the $5m build.

A sod-turning ceremony is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project.

 Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and businesspeople.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff and  Tasmanian Labor Senator Anne Urquhart and guests took part in the ceremony.

The Hub project team is  enthusiastic about ensuring this new facility reflects the whole of King Island. This will be done not only in how the facility is managed and used, but also in how it is constructed.

The central fireplace will feature rock from the Grassy Scheelite mine, the display cabinet that wraps around the verandah will hold artefacts from our Island’s rich history and creative present, and statement pieces of furniture will be constructed from local materials, ideally by local artists.

Any community member who has a piece of King Island that could be used to showcase our Island in this way is encouraged to contact the project team by emailing the council.

The project team is particularly keen to collect local timbers, especially any timbers that may have washed free of the Naracoopa Jetty.

Since the approval of the development application in April 2023, the design team have
identified some improvements to the construction of the new build, including separating the earth berm from the side of the building, reducing the structural load and creating another point of interest in a small bridge over the gap to the rooftop lookout.

Conversations with key stakeholders continue around occupancy and the operations of the King Island Hub.

An MOU has been in place with KIRDO since 2021, but the project allows for more detailed commitments on how the space will be operated once construction is completed.

 Community members are invited to share any suggestions for one-off or
regular events which could be hosted at the site by emailing kicouncil@kingisland.tas.gov.au.

This year’s King Island Australia Day holiday celebrations were held at the King Island Boat Club at Grassy Harbour and recognised Linda Payne as the 2024 King Islander of the Year.

The Community Organisation of the Year was awarded to the King Island RSL sub-branch.  “As Mayor and on behalf of all King Islanders I congratulate both Linda Payne and our RSL Club (Sub-branch) for their Australia Day recognition this year. Linda and the RSL epitomise volunteer service for the benefit of King Island and are an inspiration to us all”, Mayor Blackie said.

 The formalities began at 11am and the attendance, while reasonable, continued to follow the decline in numbers of recent years.  Participation increased when families with young children arrived for the post-ceremony activities of the colour run along the breakwater, and a bit of wharf fishing. The council provided $5 food vouchers, which could be redeemed with food vendors. 

The day commenced with MC and King Island District High School Year 7 student Heath Blake welcoming the community and visitors and introducing King Island’s Australia Day Ambassador, Dr Christina Henri, a visual and performing artist, who is on the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women, 2013 and is Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year, 2014.

Dr Henri spoke of her heritage cloth bonnet projects, which symbolise the lives of 25,566 convict women, their children and lost babies transported to Australia between 1788-1853 and of King Island’s connections with the project, particularly recognising the previously unrecognised women on the Barque Neva; the King Island women who washed calico in the waters of King Island and sewed bonnets, which are now on permanent display in Cobh, County Cork Heritage Centre and at the Reekara Community Centre.

Prior to the awards presentation, Mayor Blackie said in his address that Australia Day is important to him personally and it remains firmly part of King Island. “It is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the individuals and organisations that have made a noteworthy contribution to our community,” he said.

The 2024 Community Event or Organisation of the Year went to the King Island RSL sub-branch and was accepted by acting president Gary Barker.

“The RSL has, over 100 years, continuously supported defence veterans and their families on King Island, all done voluntarily,” Mayor Blackie said. “In 2023 our RSL Club held two significant commemorative events honouring the sacrifice of veterans and King Island military history.

“The first of these events was the Commemorative Service for the Beaufort bomber crash on King Island in 1943.

“Last year’s large commemorative event honoured the four-crew killed in that crash and the three islanders who died serving in the RAAF during World War 2. This very successful commemoration attracted national attention and involved the RAAF from East Sale (where the aircraft was based at the time) current and former service personnel and most importantly family descendants of those killed. The second very successful RSL event was an audio-visual presentation of the King Island World War 2 Comfort Fund.

“The Island’s fund, led by Jack Marshall, raised money, and sent comfort parcels to service personnel throughout the world. It was the only fund in the nation that was not required to work through the state branch.

In his award acceptance speech, Mr Barker outlined the events and acknowledged former RSL sub-branch president Tom Shaw and his wife Mel, who left the island last week. “Tom, ex-navy, accepted the RSL presidency and is responsible for reviving the sub-branch. Membership was waning and he, with the support of his wife Mel and team reinvigorated our local branch,” Mr Barker said. He highlighted the significance of the Commemoration Ceremony for the descendants of the four-crew killed in 1943.  Families were unable to attend 80 years ago, and their deaths today remain part of their families’ stories.

 “The sub-branch is truly appreciative of the Comfort Fund letter transcribers over the last ten years, as should the community: Ann Ghazarian, supported by Ann Honess, Sophie Thorn and Trish Clemons,” he said.

Mayor Blackie said 2024 Citizen of the Year Award winner Linda Payne could be recognised for so many reasons.

 “Linda originally came to King Island to take up a teaching position at Reekara School. She is kind of still working there part-time today. Her teaching career gradually extended across both KIDHS and Reekara School,” he said.

“Linda has had extensive involvement in a range of community groups over many decades. However today I will focus on her more recent volunteer work as a member of our fantastic Lions Club, where she has over 25 years of dedicated service.

“Recently with Lions, Linda founded and established our LEO Club which is all about fostering young people to serve our community and develop new skills and connections under the Lions umbrella. It was Linda’s drive and fostering the potential in our young people that has taken our LEO Club to national and international acclaim.

“Of course, Linda has so many other significant achievements ascribed to her, but she would always humbly come back to teacher, mother, now grandmother, farmer, and Lion. Linda is a very humble person and we thought she may not accept Islander of the Year for that reason. This huge accolade had been decided by your peers Linda, congratulations, and thanks for accepting it on our behalf,”

The King Island Council did not receive any nomination for the Young King Islander of the Year, so it was not awarded.