Canberra's Stewart Thompson might only be 24 but the new driving force behind one of the territory’s biggest community events isn’t afraid to dream big.
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The young production manager and events co-ordinator has catapulted into the presidency role of this year’s Tuggeranong Community Festival with energy, enthusiasm and a desire to build a greater sense of community, particularly among his peers.
“I really am focusing on young people this year. I feel like I can bridge that gap between the young and the old,” he said.
“I think we need to encourage this kind of spirit now before we’re buried in our Facebooks and our computers.”
What started with donating some lighting equipment at last November’s fiesta has snowballed into filling the president’s shoes in preparation for the 26th festival.
INXS frontman Ciaran Gribbin and Canberra alternative rockers Drawing North will front what has been touted the biggest and boldest event yet.
Among the extended three-day program will be an all-ages light show and dance party, a full orchestra and a greater opportunity to brush shoulders with performers.
Despite his age, Thompson has brushed aside initial nerves and sees his debut festival as a stepping stone to bigger and better performances – and a chance to prove what can be achieved at a grassroots level.
The 24-year-old said he had already started negotiating high-profile acts for the following year.
“I’m trying to push the boundary of what’s possible [but] you can’t be too naive and think you know everything,” he said.
“I have a lot of big ideas . . . but to do that I have to be able to show people we can pull off the ideas brought to the table.”
But centre stage was a desire to draw all facets of the community out of their homes and into the spotlight.
“I’m kind of getting a bit sick of people saying there is nothing on in Canberra. If we can change that, I’m really adamant to do that.”