Some of Greenfest 2008 news clippings:

Greenfest Draws Crowd (City North News, 13 October 2008)

THOUSANDS of green-conscious people braved grey skies to take in the message of Greenfest at South Bank from Friday through to Sunday.

Friday’s launch included Nunukal, Yuggera Torres Strait Island dancers, environmental activist and film legend Jack Thompson and Dr Jane Goodall, who talked about her life and how she came to live with chimpanzees. It was an inspiring message on many levels.

Here was a lady who landed in Africa with no qualifications, made breakthrough revelations about chimpanzees, was ridiculed by academia and church leaders for her passion and zeal, yet stuck to her guns and is today acknowledged as one of the planet’s great ambassadors.. read more

Greenfest under way (City South News, 11 October 2008) 

GREENFEST was launched on Friday and unlike at most events there was only one short speech by a politician.

State Treasurer Andrew Fraser stood in for Premier Annna Bligh, but there was no need for back pats or flesh pumping on this occasion.

It was a time for inspiration and celebration in the Suncorp Piazza at South Bank as Nunukal, Yuggera Torres Strait Island dancers shared their culture through song, dance and explanations. read more

Greenfest Green at Heart (Weekly Times, 9 October 2008)

Greenfest is not only a cool music festival, organisers say it will be one of the largest free "green" events ever held in Australia.

More than 50,000 people are tipped to join in this weekend's Brisbane celebration that has environmental awareness at its core.

"There will be over 50 musical acts and 150 exhibitors," volunteer organiser Steve York says. read more

Organic is Growing (thedaily.com.au, 9 October 2008)

Gone are the days when buying organic produce carried a hippy stigma and you had to travel to poky corners of the Sunshine Coast to find it.

In the lead-up to National Organic Week, to be held from November 11 to 19, Shane Stanley, creator of the Sunshine Coast Farmers’ Markets, expects the organic fruit and vege business to boom. read more

Green Cars on Show (The Courier-Mail, 8 October 2008)

A HYBRID car, four diesels, five light cars, two vans, and two electric bikes will be on display in the Green Motor Show at Southbank from Friday.

The Green Motor Show is part of Greenfest, which exhibits environmental solutions for all facets of life.

Organiser Colman Ridge, who drives a Toyota Prius hybrid, has poured $250,000 of his own money into next weekend's environmental festival at the South Bank forecourt. read more

Drums to kick off Greenfest carnival (City South News, 8 October 2008)

SOUTH BANK: South Bank will dance to a different beat this weekend with the first ever Greenfest to be held in the precinct from October 10-12.

African drummer Mamady Keita will lead 70 participants on African drums tomorrow at 5pm in the Piazza to get the party started.

This will follow an appearance by Australian cinema legend Jack Thompson, who has confirmed he will join local band Ruby Blue on the main stage at 4pm in the Cultural Forecourt. read more

Organic food feast for a cooler planet – a 100% certified first! (Hospitality, 7 October 2008)

GREENFEST, the largest free community green festival to hit the banks of Brisbane is the first mainstream event in Australia to guarantee the organic origins of festival food.

Greenfest has enlisted the aid of the Biological Farmers of Australia Group (including organic certification arm ‘Australian Certified Organic’) to make sure sustainable food featured in the organic ‘Green Bake’ section is just that.

From 10-12 October, Green Bake will provide food produced by certified organic farmers and operators, with an emphasis on local supply. read more

Greenfest Drives Green Agenda  (The Courier-Mail, 13 May 2008)

TWO years ago, successful marketing director Colman Ridge opted out of the corporate world, sold his $90,000 Audi TT and is now organising Brisbane's first Greenfest.

Ridge, 42, of Brisbane, has pumped $250,000 of his own money into the October 10-12 festival in the Southbank forecourt.

"In the area I worked you come across new ideas constantly," he said. read more