31 January 2012
Fraser Coast Regional Council has secured $20,000 in Events Queensland funding to market Maryborough’s heritage offerings and its unique connection with Mary Poppins into south-east Queensland.
As part of this campaign, Maryborough is issuing an open invitation to the Brisbane and beyond to spend a “Weekend with Mary” in the birthplace of the creator of the famous nanny.
A “Weekend with Mary” will be held on the last full weekend of the month, and includes a new Lamplight Bazaar in the historic Portside Precinct on the Saturday evening as well as a host of quirky tours and family friendly activities.
The first event will be held on the 25-26 February.
Fraser Coast Regional Council’s Executive Manager of Public Relations and Marketing Lisa Stephenson said this Council initiative was designed to capitalise on interest generated by the current Brisbane season of the award winning Mary Poppins musical.
“Promotions, targeting the south-east Queensland drive market will be done in conjunction with Tourism Fraser Coast and Tourism Queensland.
“Council is also negotiating with coach companies and Queensland Rail to introduce holiday packages based on A Weekend with Mary,” she said.
A full page advertisement by Council in the Musical program is promoting Maryborough’s unique links to Mary Poppins and its many heritage attractions to thousands of theatre goers each night.
“This is our opportunity to capture those who will renew their interest in Mary Poppins as a result of the musical and all promotional activities associated with it,” Ms Stephenson said.
The Mary Poppins Festival and Weekend with Mary event is benefiting from funding received under the Events Queensland Regional Development Program (EQRDP).
The EQRDP is an investment program designed to extend the flow of economic and social benefits of events to regional Queensland.
The latest round of funding brings the total number of events supported under the Events Queensland Regional Development Program to 856 and a total investment of $18.3 million since it began in 2001.
Ms Stephenson said while “Weekends with Mary” was a new event for both visitors and residents it would incorporate many of the unique cultural and heritage experiences already available in Maryborough.
“We’re are essentially packaging all our ‘practically perfect experiences such as Mary Poppins, museums, heritage architecture, our wonderful Ghostly Tours tour, steam trains and Sunday in the Park and building upon the last weekend of the month activities,” she said.
