Orange360
Website: orange360.com.au
EVENT STORY
The Orange region is situated 3.5 hours’ drive from Sydney or Canberra and is nestled around Gaahna Bula, Mount Canobolas, on the land of the Wiradjuri people.
Whether you’re looking for the energy of the wine harvest or a cosy winter escape away from the rush, every season brings new views to soak in, time to slow down, and a year-round calendar of events celebrating the region’s distinct food, wine and culture.
HOW THEY WORKED WITH US
Annual Events Bootcamp for local event organisers in 2024 and 2025.
WHO PARTICIPATED
Regional organisations that run events for locals and visitors.
Recipients and potential recipients of the Newmont O360 Regional Event Fund.
Orange360 member organisations that run events of notable significance, attracting more than 150 guests.
Tourism managers, Orange360 staff and Newmont representatives.
WHY THEY NEEDED OUR SUPPORT AND WHAT THEY WANTED TO GAIN
One of Orange360’s five strategic priorities is to activate and promote the growth and success of in-region festivals and events. Through this focus, Orange360 aims to support and promote regional events and festivals that strengthen the region’s appeal, build sector capacity and contribute to regional prosperity.
Through its partnership with Australian Centre for Regional Events, Orange360 delivered a Bootcamp for the region’s event organisers as part of its strategy to support sustainable and successful regional events.
WHAT THEY GAINED FROM PARTICIPATING
After reviewing participant feedback, three strong themes emerged:
1. Strong planning and organisation
This was the most repeated theme. Key points included:
Starting preparations early and planning well in advance, including one to two years ahead for recurring events.
Using structured planning documents, run sheets and clear record-keeping.
Storing all documents centrally so multiple people can access them, rather than relying on information being held by one person.
Clearly defining roles and responsibilities for every stage of the event.
Thinking through the entire attendee journey, from entry to exit, and ensuring all information is organised and available.
2. Knowing your audience and creating meaningful experiences
Many takeaways focused on intentionally designing events around the people attending. Key points included:
Understanding the holistic needs of the target audience, not just who already attends, but who the event is trying to attract.
Planning event content and activities around audience insights.
Designing the full experience from the attendee’s perspective.
Focusing on authentic and experience-centred events.
Ensuring clear and consistent communication across marketing channels.
3. Building sustainable and resilient event practices
Participants highlighted both environmental and operational sustainability. Key points included:
Considering environmental impacts and incorporating sustainable practices.
Using early sponsorship to support long-term self-sustainability.
Creating budgets that can operate without grants or external funding if needed.
Delegating effectively and organising events so they can run even if key organisers are not there on the day.
Using broader volunteer networks and collaborating with other groups.
Reviewing policies, such as cancellation terms, to support event stability.
Continuing to network and gather feedback for improvement.
TOP 3 LEARNINGS/OUTCOMES
Based on the combined responses, the strongest three actionable themes were:
Improve planning systems and structure by formalising planning documents, centralising files, defining roles and preparing earlier.
Deepen the focus on audience and experience design by understanding who the event is for, delivering authentic experiences and ensuring consistent communication.
Strengthen environmental and financial sustainability by planning budgets without relying on grants, using sponsorship strategically, considering environmental impacts and building resilient volunteer support.
