Sample Food Festival rescued by Community Engine

Organiser of the Sample Food Festival – A Taste of Northern NSW Remy Tancred was desperate last week when Essential Energy notified her that they could no longer sponsor the power at this years’ festival.

Dean Power from Community Engine with Remy Tancred from Sample

“They are great people and are still loaning us their barbecue” said Remy Tancred of Essential Energy, who last year powered the restaurants at the wildly successful inaugural event. “But their structure has changed so they just can’t do it this year. We seriously would not have been able to run the festival, supplying the restaurants with power is crucial”.

Remy ran into Dean Power from Community Engine the day she heard the news last week. Community Engine offered the money she needed to get powered and going that same day.

“They came to the rescue with a few thousand dollars” said Ms Tancred. “They certainly put the capital “C” back into community, they’ve really come in with community spirit”.

The hip pop-up shop in Byron Street Byron Bay through which Community Engine has operated this year is closing this month as they spread their wings nationally.

“Our Byron pop up shop is closing but we’ll be popping up at Sample with a stall on October 6th and we’ll pop up regularly around the region” said Dean Power. “We’re certainly not leaving town. We are thrilled that our pilot in Byron Bay has been successful. Our dream was always to help the community here get going on the Engine, which was very new, then take this wonderful community of businesses, individuals and community groups out to the rest of the country and connect them with others”.

The Community Engine Northern Rivers $100,000 giveaway has plenty of money left in the kitty, according to Power. “We’ve just given out over $11,000 and are so happy to see new organisations signing up all the time” he said.

To find out more go to www.communityengine.com.au/giveaway or call Dean Power on 0429 328333.