10 October 2024, NSW – Loud shirts and hula skirts aren’t the only things looking particularly bright for Uralla’s Thunderbolts Festival in 2024, with news of a major three-year sponsorship deal with renewable energy company ACEN Australia.
The funding boost is worth $33,000 over the three years and will enable the event organiser, the Rotary Club of Uralla, to make long-term plans for the popular community event. The sponsorship deal complements Uralla Shire Council’s ongoing support for the event, in a partnership to help fund the rides, local musical performers and other entertainers that draw thousands of locals and visitors to the event each year.
This year is the 25th anniversary of the Thunderbolts Festival and organisers are celebrating with the theme Loud Shirts & Hula Skirts.
“Our goal is always to provide a fun, family-friendly day that brings our community together, and is extremely affordable so everyone can get involved,” Rotary Club of Uralla member and festival spokesperson Leanne Doran said.
“The cost of putting these events together is constantly creeping up, so support from organisations within our community is invaluable to make the festival a success.”
Sarah Donnan, Construction Project Director for New England Solar, said the Thunderbolts Festival is one of the many events that help make Uralla Shire such a vibrant and well-connected community.
“It showcases everything that is wonderful about this community,” Mrs Donnan said.
“ACEN Australia is part of the Uralla community for the long run and we’re honoured to be invited by the Rotary Club to be involved in the festival.”
Stage 1 of ACEN Australia’s New England Solar project has been generating clean energy for the past 12 months, with more than 6,000 sheep grazing and coexisting across the site.
ACEN Australia is also developing its Deeargee Solar project in the south of Uralla Shire.
“Community resilience and inclusiveness are at the heart of our Social Investment Program, so we’re extremely pleased our sponsorship can contribute to keeping this fun, family-orientated festival affordable and accessible for everyone,” Mrs Donnan said.
“We look forward to meeting community members at the event.”
ACEN Australia is now constructing the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for New England Solar, nine kilometres northeast of Uralla.
Construction of the 320 MW Stage 2 of the solar farm is expected to commence later. The construction works will prioritise sourcing local workers and services. Once fully completed, New England Solar will generate up to 720 megawatts of clean energy, powering the equivalent of 200,000 typical Australian homes.
Visit the Uralla Thunderbolts Festival Facebook page for more details and updates about the event.