Woodford Folk Festival founder Bill Hauritz has been lauded for his ‘vision, creativity and commitment’ as a new era gets underway for the event.
Mr Hauritz stood down from the director’s role upon its successful return from a two-year hiatus.
The festival’s general manager, Amanda Jackes, has taken the reins, after the six-day event hosted more than 120,000 people from December 27 to January 1.
She praised Mr Hauritz for his impact.
“Bill is an original thinker whose innovation in festivals broke the mould of what a festival was,” she said.
“He invented a festival experience which has been copied everywhere and forever changed festivals in Australia and beyond. (He) has been an inspiration to work with.
“He is a creative powerhouse whose vision is beyond our lifetime.
“His commitment to leaving a rich and beautiful legacy to our future generations can be clearly seen in his penmanship of the organisation’s 500 Year Plan.”
Mr Hauritz founded the not-for-profit organisation (now called Woodfordia Inc) in 1985 and went on to found the festival (then called Maleny Folk Festival) in 1987.
He then led the move to what was a degraded 200ha former dairy farm outside the town of Woodford in 1994. It was the first festival in Australia to purchase its own land.
The Christmas/New Year festival was his 35th as festival director.
Woodfordia Inc management committee member and Port Fairy Folk Music Festival founder Jamie McKew lauded Mr Hauritz.
“From 1985 to 2023, Bill Hauritz along with thousands of Woodfordians, volunteers and staff created the festivals, forests and lakes – the unique wonderland of Woodfordia,” he said.
“That is where musicians, writers, artists share stages with scientists, environmentalists, authors, politicians and even festival directors.
“There is no other festival with such a broad palette.
“Bill Hauritz had the vision, courage, inspiration and wisdom, along with faith in humanity, to walk the tricky trails for 35 years to lead the creation of Woodfordia.”
Mr Hauritz’s contribution to music and the arts has been recognised locally and internationally.
A recipient of the prestigious Queensland Smithsonian Fellowship, which took him on a study of festivals in the US and Canada for four months, he was appointed as a member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the national honours list; is a recipient of the Myer Prize for outstanding contribution to performing arts; recognised as a Queensland Great by the Queensland Government; was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Queensland Music Awards; and inducted as an Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
In his traditional New Year’s Day address at the festival, he told an 800-strong audience that it was the perfect moment to announce a change in leadership.
He thanked levels of government for making the festival possible in 2022.
“Without the support from both the Queensland Government and the Moreton Bay Regional Council we would never have been able to return the festival after the Covid years,” he said.
Mr Hauritz will stay on as vice-president. He said Ms Jackes would take the festival forward.
“We are extremely fortunate to have someone of Amanda’s calibre to take the festival into a new and exciting era,” he said.
“Having worked with Amanda for more than 30 years – 22 of them with her as general manager – I am thrilled that she has accepted the offer of the role from our management committee.”
“Amanda is a co-founder of Woodfordia – her contribution across the organisation has been immense.
“She is always brimming with excitement and ideas for the festival, which we reckon is only about halfway to achieving our vision for it.”
Ms Jackes said it was “an honour” to accept the role.
“Woodfordia is a special place because of all those who have gifted their ideas and time over many years,” she said.
“It is a place of innovation and incubation across the arts, humanities and environment.
“We have such golden opportunities because of our tremendous community of patrons, volunteers, artists and enthusiasts.
“We live in challenging times when people are experiencing high levels of disconnection and anxiety.
“It is vital we look to bring hope, joy and connection with others into people’s lives.
“The opportunity to work together as a community, and to be uplifted by the artists and presenters reflecting on our times through their art is as powerful catalyst for hope, joy and inspiration.”
