The annual event was hosted by the local fireworks wholesaler and manufacturer.

According to Colin Quick from Quick as a Flash Pyrotechnics from Southern Victoria the trade forum is the only one of its type in Australia and it gives the smaller operators an opportunity to learn about industry developments and network with other people in the same industry.

“We have possibly hundreds of smaller fireworks display companies throughout Australia and most of them are relatively small putting on displays for their local communities and sometimes working with the larger organisations on the bigger shows.” Mr Quick said. “It pays to come to the Fireworks Australia Forum as we learn from each other and can share our knowledge and experience to help each other overcome problems and learn about what is new in the industry.”

“We are all concerned about safety and it gives us a chance to warn others of problems we see within our industry and to discuss better ways of doing things safely.

“Our gratitude goes to Marty Brady and his team for putting on this annual display of new products and giving us a chance gauge audience reaction is really important too.

One of the other pyro-technicians said that by seeing the products they can judge whether they are suited to different types of applications like indoor or in areas where surroundings could pose a risk from still smouldering debris.

There were about 150 pyro-technicials plus some younger family members at this year’s forum, “good representation of serious industry professionals,” according to Fireworks Australia managing director Martin Brady.

Many of them have travelled from interstate including Queensland and South Australia with a big representation from NSW and Victoria.

Some of Fireworks Australia’s regular clients were unable to attend because they were involved in staging displays.

Craig Harding from Peninsular Fireworks in Victoria said that he had worked with a number of different fireworks event companies and coming along to the forum gave him an opportunity to renew contacts.

“We often work with other companies in staging larger displays like the New Years Eve display and it helps that we are up to date with the use of the various types of firing mechanisms and safety precautions,” he said. “Also we can learn from each other about ways to avert staging problems and instances of sequences not firing by building in backup systems.

“These days most displays are fired using a remote system of some type and it is important to have a backup system just in case something goes wrong.”

He also mentioned that the forum was an important place where operators could discuss safety regulations as well as provide feedback to their suppliers.

 The Gunning event has grown from a small but spectacular display at the local golf course to a major community event and local fundraiser as well as an important interaction between supplier and display staging companies.

This year the crowd numbered over 5000 with many spectators travelling from not just the surrounding towns of Goulburn Crookwell Yass and Canberra but well beyond including Sydney to view the massive finale display as well as the almost 150 individually fired, trade exhibition fireworks some of which had only arrived in Australia for the first time in the last couple of weeks.

 Supporting the fireworks display were a wide variety food stalls rides for the children and even some for adults, Goulburn Soldiers Pipes and Drums, St John Ambulance, the Rural Fire service, Hume local area police and other local community groups. 

More photos from the Gunning Fireworks display at http://www.townandcountrymagazine.com.au/