The Inaugural Gala Community Evening

On Friday, 21st February, we hosted the inaugural Gala Community Evening at the Noosa Sofitel Pacific Resort.

An exciting new initiative designed to give local businesses the opportunity to win a major festival sponsorship and unlock a game-changing marketing opportunity. With a short lead time from concept to execution, we are pleased with the results and look forward to growing this initiative long into the future.

With over 100 guests in attendance on the night, guests were treated to a memorable night. The evening was a huge success, bringing together the Noosa business community for a night of networking & celebration. It was also the first opportunity we had to unveil the Pink Nose Revolution – A charity organistion dedicated to bridging the gap in gender inequality and bringing more awareness to domestic violence through the attributes of sport.

Festival Chairman, John Finlay believes this initiative is a crucial addition to the Festival, strengthening ties with the local business community and providing a unique way for businesses to gain significant exposure through the event which is approaching its 34th year in 2025. By creating an accessible pathway to a high-value sponsorship, the Festival not only supports local businesses but also ensures that the event remains deeply connected to the Noosa region. “Looking ahead, we plan to grow this initiative, encouraging even more businesses to participate and expanding the opportunities available”. Said John.

At the end of the night, we were thrilled to announce that Pete Lever & Brooke Davies from Diverse Lending Solutions were the inaugural winners of this incredible prize. Congratulations to Pete and Brooke, we can’t wait to see your brand take center stage at the Noosa Festival of Surfing in 2026!

Q&A with Diverse Lending Solutions:

1. What made you decide to attend the Gala Community Evening?
“We love being part of the Noosa community and were already big fans of the festival. When we heard about the opportunity for a local business to become the presenting sponsor, we saw it as a no-brainer and a chance to support something iconic and connect with thousands of people in a meaningful way.”

2. What was your reaction when you won the major prize?
“Honestly, shock! We never expected to win something this big. We were so sure we wouldn’t win that we were actually in Bali at the time. It was surreal to receive a phone call and exciting to realise the exposure and opportunity that came with it. The team were buzzing and safe to say the local Bali bar got a workout that night.”

3. What do you look forward to most about being the Presenting Partner in 2026?
“Incredible. The exposure this opens up for us is immense. We’ve already had real conversations with Josh, John and the Festival team and these guys know what they’re doing and I think this innovative addition to this festival is just what local business needs and need to get around it. For us, this is the kick in backside we need to really take ownership of our marketing and this will be the perfect springboard into 2026.”

4. What would you say to other local businesses considering attending the 2026 Gala?
“Do it. The connections alone are worth it, even before you consider the chance to win. It’s a powerful way to show up for your community and grow your brand at the same time.”

5. How would you describe the overall value of the prize?
“It’s easily worth more than the $50,000 estimate, not just in media exposure, but in community trust and brand equity. For a local business, this is game-changing.”