Tinnie & Tackle Show - Record attendance at the ‘Ekka’

by Bob Wonders on 24 Mar 2009 It boasts the full name of the National Four Wheel Drive Show and Outdoors Expo, claimed to be Australia’s largest off-road, touring, towing, fishing and boating extravaganza, but in also incorporates Marine Queensland’s Tinnie and Tackle Show.

Following its three-day staging at Brisbane’s RNA Showgrounds, affectionately known as ‘the Ekka’, it was smiles all-round after more than 31,600 visitors flocked to the exhibition.

Opening day of the expo, Friday, March 20, was the first to establish a record, attracting the largest crowd ever to attend an opening day.

It happened again on the Sunday (March 22) with that day’s attendance the largest ever recorded for a Sunday segment.

The final crowd figure, 31,644 was seven percent above the 2008 attendance.

To add icing to the cake, many exhibitors across all segments of the expo reported sales figures were up by between 50 and 200 percent on 2008.

Jason Plant, Marine Queensland’s event manager, rated the Tinnie and Tackle Show component as a ‘huge success.’

'Our lager and luxury boat manufacturers may well be feeling the pinch due to the world economy, but sales on the small aluminium boats are definitely up on last year,' he said.

'For many people, a small boat remains quite affordable and there’s no better way to forget the doom and gloom than by hitting our waterways for a day fishing or cruising.

'With people refraining from taking overseas holidays, it means they are taking vacation time closer to home and for that reason more people than ever are headed for the small boat lifestyle and fishing expeditions,' he added.

Gold Coast-based manufacturer, Horizon Aluminium Boats, was among the exhibitors to express delight at the expo’s results.

Horizon’s Scott James said they experienced 'great response' from Horizon dealership Kratzmann Marine.

'Kratzmann Marine achieved solid results for us, from our smallest tinnies through to our larger models,' James said.

'This show really suits our target market and proves that our range of boats remains affordable given the current state of the economy,' he added.

The dealership’s Gary Kratzmann said the record attendance was a real bonus and led to the company having a 200 percent increase in sales when compared with last year.

It was noticeable that exhibitors within the Tinnie and Tackle Show were not confined to Brisbane-based companies; we spotted companies from as far north as Bundaberg and south to the Gold Coast among those hosting displays.

Gold Coaster Riviera hauled one of the company’s new 38’ Convertibles north along the M1 to lay claim to being the largest craft at the show.

Mark Petersen, a spokesman for the expo organisers, said that despite talk of a recession people were still indulging in their favourite past times.

'I believe a major point brought home to us was that people just want to get out there and enjoy their chosen lifestyle, taking part in all the outdoor attractions that Queensland has to offer,' he declared.

The organisers had certainly put on plenty of crowd-pleasing attractions, ranging from rock-climbing to kayak demonstrations to the Shimano Fishing Clinic which, it seemed, played to regular stand-room only audiences.

Cricket fans were catered for too, with now-retired Test opening batsman Matt Hayden in his role as ambassador for Marine Safety Queensland making regular appearances.

At one stage on the Friday morning a ‘media pack’ formed as it followed the man who was hoping to become the State’s Premier, the then-Leader of the Opposition Lawrence Springborg.

Sadly for Mr Springborg, before the expo closed its doors he was to conceded defeat and announce he would no longer seek to lead his Liberal National Party.