7.1°C Not observed 
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Conchita Harding and Barrie Custance must feel sometimes like they are Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part Three — just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.
After years of tireless service to their community and the Sea Cavalcade festival, both announced their retirement last year, calling the 40th anniversary of Sea Cavalcade their last as chairs of the committee. They committed to helping out this year, acting as advisors as they passed the torch to the next committee chair or chairs who would hopefully continue the tradition for many years to come. But the volunteers who stepped forward couldn’t handle the responsibility, and Harding and Custance again were forced to step up to take on their roles this year. Hence the Corleone reference.
The dynamic and feisty duo are faced with a shrinking budget and fundraising pool and an even more shrinking volunteer base. Some events this year will simply be cancelled if more money is not found in the remaining few weeks before festival weekend July 24 to 26, and some may be cancelled due to lack of volunteers. It’s sad that a festival with such a long-standing tradition in our community may cease to exist next year because of lack of volunteers and community support.
Community support is something we thought the Sunshine Coast was famous for. When the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation started the Back the CAT fundraising campaign a few years ago, volunteer support and dollars poured in, and now St. Mary’s Hospital is home to a much-needed piece of vital medical equipment.
When our watersheds are threatened by logging, the community rallies to protect them. When someone is hurt in a tragic accident or battling illness, fundraisers are held to help those in their time of need. When there is a cause, like Relay for Life for cancer research, hundreds come out and raise thousands. So why does a community-wide festival like Sea Cavalcade, put on by the community for the community, struggle to get a solid volunteer base and funding? It doesn’t make any sense.
So come on Sunshine Coast, get off your duffs and support this festival and the many other wonderful summer time events we all enjoy. If something isn’t done soon, Sea Cavalcade will sink to the bottom of the sea faster than the Titanic, and that will be a shame.
