General News
9 June, 2026
Underdog’s cash boost
AN “undercooked” southside community event has had its funding doubled after it was reconsidered by Cairns Regional Council at its ordinary meeting.
More than $200,000 of grants were approved by the council for round 18 of the Community Partnerships Grants, which fund community events and activities that celebrate culture, sport and community connection across the region.
But in a departure from the usual, Cr Matthew Tickner called for more money for the Mission Australia – South Side Celebration, to bring it up from underdog status and ensure its success and growth continues.
Cr Tickner acknowledged that, while the task of “whittling down” $433,000 worth of applications to less than half the amount was not an easy assignment, he said there were some gaps in the evaluation process, and “some events seem to either come in very undercooked ... or overlooked completely, as this event has in years past”.
He said his Division 2 area had historically suffered from a lack of community-centered events of scale, particularly free events, because of the “dynamics of the division”, but despite the trend, the South Side Celebration had become “big hit”.
Put on by Hambledon House in Ravizza Park, the event has grown over the past two years, due to popular demand and the backing of the community.
“Those last two years in which council have provided them with a small grant has seen a massive leap in growth of the event,” Cr Tickner said.
He asked the council to give a vote of confidence in the organisers and increase the $5000 grant to $10,000 by using funds from the next round of grants.
A motion to consider the request was carried by the council.
The big winner in this year’s grants was the Babinda Harvest Festival receiving the maximum grant of $25,000.
A statement from council said the funding would help “deliver one of the region’s most significant community celebrations as part of Cairns’ 150th anniversary celebrations”.
“The event was expected to attract thousands of residents and visitors with parades, entertainment, vintage machinery displays and local business activations throughout the township,” the statement said.
Major cultural celebrations, which provided opportunities for residents and visitors to experience and celebrate the diversity of cultures in the Cairns community were also provided with grants and included the Cairns Pride Festival 2026 ($17,200), Cairns Japan Bon Dance Festival ($18,000), PNG’s Family & Cultural – 51st Independence Anniversary ($17,700), Cairns Durga Puja 2026 ($7500) and Cairns Hindu Samaj Inc – Ganeshotsav ($7500).
Other big winners included the Great Pyramid Race and Country Fair ($15,000), Joy to the World carols and fireworks ($20,000), Far North QLD Relay for Life 2026 ($17,000) and the YAPS FNQ Dogs Day Out ($12,000).
Community and sporting events included the Barron River Foodfest which received ($10,000), South Side Celebration ($10,000), Cairns Chieftains Festival of Gaelic Games ($7000), Fiji Community Cairns 7s Rugby Tournament ($7000), Machans Beach Moon Over Machans Festival ($5000), Bayview Heights Community Kindergarten 50th Anniversary ($3000), St Rita’s School Babinda Centenary Celebration ($3000) and Redlynch Valley Community Group’s Tunnel of Terror ($1527).
