Technology gives venue a leading edge
AS the Cairns Convention Centre prepares to enter its newest incarnation, staff who have been there since the beginning have looked back on the venue’s biggest moments and the changing technology that’s helped to put on bigger and better events.
Convention centre staff returned to the building two weeks ago after relocating while the $176m upgrade was getting under way.
The upgrade has new lighting, wiring and sound systems, as well as a new airconditioning system and a facelift.
Audiovisual technical manager Mark Kelso started in 1999 as a casual staffer three years after the convention centre first opened its doors.
He joined after its first major upgrade, the construction of the 5000-seat arena.
Since then, Mr Kelso has had a hand in managing the
sound and lighting for some of the venue’s biggest events, including concerts by Powderfinger, Dolly Parton and the Wiggles.
“Back then it was a big daunting place to first start out at,” he said.
“Audiovisual-wise there was a lot more manual labour.
“Many days were spent sitting up a ladder with a 35mm slide carousel making sure it wouldn’t pop out, which is how the presentations were done.
“When I first started we plastered paper signage everywhere or letterboards, now you walk in and you’ve got digital signage everywhere, all done over the network.”
Mr Kelso said the biggest highlight of the job was seeing the arena transformed for the Professional Bull Riding event.
“That’s fascinating to watch that come together … watching the place transform is fantastic to see.
“As for concerts, Powderfinger was easily the biggest we had come in here, it was massive, with a lot of rigging and set-up.
“The 2014 (Australian Tourism Exchange) conference was also a highlight.
“It was a massive event for Cairns that turned the whole place into an expo with large marquees that our IT manager, Mark Doktor, had to set up with full wireless coverage as well.”
Mr Doktor said when he first started in 2011, highspeed internet was a rarity for many of the centre’s clients.
“We were lucky because we had the G20 in 2014 and were one of the first venues to get NBN to the building because of that,” he said.
“In one example we had a medical conference in 2015 and they actually livestreamed a robotic surgery from Melbourne.”
Business development manager Cathy Taylor said the technology available at the centre had prepared them to run Zoom and hybrid events during the COVID years.
“We were doing virtual meetings before they became a necessity,” she said.
“We were ahead of the times and the technology keeps getting better and now with our new refurb, it means more clients coming back.”
The convention centre had its second major expansion in 2005 and its third in 2011.
The next phase is a substantial 500-seat 10,5000sq m extension overlooking Trinity Inlet.