WinterFest showcases Monash’s best
The Monash community turned out in force during Winterfest.
The University's very first WinterFest drew a crowd of over 15,000, as the week-long celebrations featured an exciting range of events and activities.
Monash staff and their families, students, alumni and the local community came together for WinterFest which ran from 3 - 9 August. The event was supported by over 100 student volunteers, allowing the festival to run smoothly and created an opportunity for students to gain practical work experience.
Highlights included a fantastic music performance by the University's own Movement 9 who supported Clare Bowditch and The Black Sorrows, while budding student comedians David Rose and Naomi Higgins opened for Tommy Little and Nazeem Hussain at the Comedy Night.
Monash Sport's Friday Night Freeze raised over $11,000 for Motor Neuron Disease research and hosted three of Melbourne Victory’s star players.
Other attractions included a snowfield, live sport, campus lighting, night markets, dodgeball competitions, a toboggan run, a student snow party, family movie night, roving performers and more.
The Monash University Student Theatre (MUST) Container Festival ran throughout the week, offering an opportunity for patrons to engage with the creative arts culture. The Menzies building was awash with colour during the week as Master’s student Kit Webster presented an amazing light show, up until Friday evening when fireworks lit up the night sky.
Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice-President Mr Peter Marshall said the event brought the Monash community together, in a way that we rarely see other than on Open Day.
“We had an excellent turnout to WinterFest with people of all ages experiencing what Monash has to offer, whilst showcasing our visual and performing arts and sporting talent,” Mr Marshall said.
“Of course, the success of this event would not have been possible without the hard work of our staff and the support of our student volunteers.”
WinterFest was a collaborative effort of many University areas led by the Campus Community Division and included Facilities & Services, Monash Student Association, Monash Academy of Performing Arts, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Monash University Museum of Art and Monash Art Design and Architecture.
Staff are invited to provide their feedback on WinterFest by completing an online survey before Friday 28 August.
Photo albums from WinterFest can be found on Monash University’s Facebook page and stay tuned for the WinterFest video.