http://aspirecq.com/?p=94
Where you from? Where’s that?
What about yourself? Rockhampton. Oh yeh I know where that this.
For a city of around 70000 people Rockhampton or Rocky seems pretty well known. I’ve rarely had to explain where it is when I’m away. It got me wondering, why is this so? (I know I’ve pinched that TV Professors line.) Education helps, not just the geography classes though. The University and boarding schools are priceless assets of the city. They not only produce graduates who may leave our city and spread word of Rockhampton, but also attract students from all over Australia and the world. The Rockhampton Grammar School is one of the largest co-educational boarding schools in Australia. Within one class I lectured at the CQUniversity there were 8 different nationalities.
How can we get an even better return from these assets and the general awareness of Rockhampton? One way could be a Rockhampton Reunion. Like a school reunion, former residents come from all over Australia return to re-acquaint with family, friends, work colleagues and places. I believe a Rocky Reunion has been done before. However Google didn’t seem to have a record of it. Could one be held like Beef Week, maybe even every 3 years? One central location; different schools, workplaces, extended families could book a separate room/pavilion for their reunion, displays of all things Rockhampton (past, present and future) could be on show; tours arranged to prime city sites; guest speakers, entertainment, sporting activities could attract more attendance and publicity of the event. A bit like the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. A lot of individual reunions and events bundled into one package. A weeklong celebration of Rockhampton. Like Beef Week the economic value to the region could be enormous. Just important though is highlighting the positives of our city; the successes, the friendships, the progress, the history, the diversity of cultures, etc. What a social media gold mine this could be; after all everyone knows Rockhampton, or thinks they do. Why not take advantage of this awareness and every 3 years create a beacon that people around the world might be guided to.