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What Groovin the Moo brings to the table

Groovin the Moo (GTM) is a popular live music festival which visits multiple towns in regional Australia.  With GTM Canberra selling out in its previous two years, it’s clear that the University of Canberra is doing something right. Speaking to Joe Rolf, the CEO of the University of Canberra Union, we look to gain a greater understanding of what Groovin the Moo brings to us here in Canberra.

THANK YOU Bendigo and Canberra, weekend 2 was so much fun! Next stop, Bunbury! : @mackenziesweetnam #GTM2017 #groovinthemoo #bendigo #canberra #festival

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Q: Why Groovin the Moo and why University of Canberra?

A: This is the seventh year that Groovin the Moo has been in Canberra and at the University of Canberra. Live music is something that’s always been very important for our students, to provide access to this through one of the largest regional music festivals is something we’re lucky to have the ability to do.

Q: What does this do for our student community?

A: It increases the reputation of the university. It provides social engagement, because students are provided with a platform to engage with other students with similar interests. Students are also encouraged to bring their friends from other universities and cities to the event, making the festival one to remember. This event gives students a chance to relax and enjoy themselves, as the one last major event before they head into their exam preparation. It also gives them a chance to listen to high-quality music and a high-quality product.  The events and student life are also enhanced by playing host to one of the largest regional live music festivals.

Q: How do the university and the wider public benefit from the festival?

A: There is an economical benefit. Groovin the Moo generates around three million dollars for the local economy. The festival brings around eleven thousand out-of-state visitors to Canberra, promoting the region and I think it helps overcome that stigma surrounding Canberra from a tourists point of view. These festival-goers generate high amounts of traffic through hotels, restaurants and clothing stores, but also give businesses an opportunity to showcase what Canberra has to offer.  It improves the perception for visitors who come to Canberra and what they should expect when they get here.

Q: What’s involved in setting up the event?

A: It takes a little over a week to set it up. There’s a full team contracted to bump up all of the infrastructures. There’s around 30 full-time staff working to get everything together as quick as possible. That’s from our point of view, but then there’s a whole range of stakeholders who are involved, from security to traffic management to police to emergency services to attend to the well-being of those who participate.

Q: How do you guys plan on keeping Groovin the Moo safe?

A: All festival goers should be able to feel safe in every environment, to enjoy themselves and relax. All stakeholders take the safety of festival patrons as the utmost importance. Police, security, medical and emergency services are all in attendance to ensure that the festival is safe and able to be enjoyed be everyone.

Q: Being on sporting fields, what does it mean for the sporting teams?

A: Since it goes for usually 4-6 weeks, the issue is the impact of the traffic compacting the fields so it becomes too hard to play on. We’ve also had bad weather in the past, which enhances the damage to the fields. So we hope for a dry festival but we don’t always get as lucky. We also put down Terraplas in the dance tent. This prevents extensive impact damage and assists in getting our supported local sporting teams back on the fields.

Q: With Groovin the Moo growing every year, are there any plans to move the event?

A: There are some risks for the event to move. One of them is the campus development plan. If the infrastructure becomes so much that we lose the location of the grounds, there’s also the developing residential housing in Lawson which is just over the road. There may be a time where noise becomes an issue but they’re the main two factors.

Although there are some concerns with an ever-growing event, GTM looks proud to stay a UC product for the foreseeable future. With the student and Canberra community reaping major benefits, it’s hard to see the event slowing down as UC looks to up each previous year. 

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