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World Youth Day - Building a city of faith
A 100 pavilions from Kennards Events helped transform a 22ha former stevedoring wharf on the edge of the Sydney CBD into a "mini-city" for World Youth Day, the largest event ever hosted in Australia.
Kennards Events, in partnership with Melbourne-based principal event equipment supplier Harry the Hirer, undertook the project of suppling the equipment for the six-day festival, which was attended by Pope Benedict XV1 and 223,000 pilgrims from more than 170 nations.
Seventeen semi-trailer loads of equipment provided by Kennards Events included more than 8000 square metres of structure - enough to cover two acres - with pavilions ranging in size from 3m by 3m to 20m by 30m. In addition, there were 20,000 identical white chairs, 2000 other chairs, more than 500 tables, 250 heaters and hundreds of hot water urns, partitions and other items. World Youth Day celebrations were spread between two main sites - the wharf precinct called Barangaroo and Randwick Racecourse.
The Kennards Events team, led by Paul Ford, Scott Trevenen and Keith Taylor, was responsible for supplying and setting up Barangaroo. Harry the Hirer took charge of Randwick Racecourse, where 400,000 people gathered for the climax of the event.
Barangaroo, which was described as a "mini-city" by church spokesman Bishop Anthony Fisher, was the venue for the opening Mass, the arrival of the Pope, Stations of the Cross (a re-enactment of Christ's last days) and a series of concerts. To cope with crowds of up to 150,000, organisers divided the area into eight sectors, each with its own array of pavilions for catering and merchandise, information and registration booths, first aid rooms and other uses.
Brett O'Hara, who led the Harry the Hirer team, said excellent co-operation between the two companies had resulted in a great outcome. "I would like to thank the team at Kennards Events for their support," he said. "Kennards Events was a crucial partner in the overall supply and delivery of equipment for this event, and their support was much appreciated. "To all staff who were involved, congratulations on a job well done."
Kennards Events' CEO, Sam Whyte, was equally as pleased. "It paves the way for further joint ventures for major events in the future," he said.
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