1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: You are listening to Mix one oh for nine and 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: of course we're broadcasting live from the Merlin Darwin Triple 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Crown Well today with me Andrew a little bit later 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: this afternoon. But joining me right now is Tim Watsford, 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: the CEO of NT Major Events. Tim, how good is 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: it being out here? 7 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: How good is it? Yeah? We're back. Supercars is definitely 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 2: back in a big way. We've seen that through the week. 9 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 2: We're seeing people from right across the country or corners 10 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 2: come and converge on the top end to celebrate what's 11 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 2: going to be pretty special weekend. 12 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's going to be amazing. Now it is the 13 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: first Indigenous round that we've hosted, is'nt it? 14 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 2: Yeah? 15 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: It is. 16 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 2: And I'll give you a bit of background on that 17 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty when we did two races back to 18 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 2: back and can help Supercars out in terms of keeping 19 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,919 Speaker 2: their calendar on track. One of the discussions we had 20 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 2: was can we turn our round into the Indigenous Round 21 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 2: and celebrate everything that we hold so dear in the territory. Look, 22 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: I'll be honest and talking about it with you right now. 23 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: Get goosebumps. The support that we've had from the teams 24 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 2: in particular, and what they've done with their vehicles, helmets, 25 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 2: race suits, the works has been absolutely amazing. So we're 26 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 2: over the moon and we're only dipping our toe in and. 27 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 1: Celebrating how fantastic hey, and then how good has it 28 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: been for you to get you know, different local indigenous 29 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: people involved in this round as well. I know that 30 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: you know, some of the welcome to countries and things 31 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: like that that we've seen are just phenomenal. 32 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm moving getting with the hairs are standing up 33 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 2: on the back of my neck at the moment. Like 34 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 2: what we did in the transport of convoys during the 35 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 2: start of the week to kick it all off and 36 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: Knuckey Street with Trent and the guys was amazing and 37 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 2: you kind of you kind of take it for ground 38 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 2: a little bit, I think, living here and breathing it. 39 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 2: But when you've got these touring crowd and the supercars 40 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 2: themselves that are actually blown away and I'm not gonna lie, 41 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 2: we're seeing our engagement through the roof. So with supercars, 42 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: it's something different and to do it in such a 43 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 2: special way is an amazing it's amazing feelings and to 44 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: be here to stay and it's going to be an 45 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 2: amazing event for the territory forever. 46 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: When it also sets us apart. We know that culturally 47 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: here in the territory we offer something that is so 48 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: different to everywhere else and it sets a saparta I 49 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: would suspect from all of the other rounds. It makes 50 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: it different. And you know, all eyes are on us 51 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: this weekend. 52 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: You did right. We can't from an events perspective, we 53 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: can't compete with these or Wales. And you know we 54 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 2: saw the f one there has been in Melbourne now 55 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 2: till twenty thirty five. Does announced Yes, today, we don't 56 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: have those kind of dollars in all the population to 57 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 2: support it. So as an events company we play to 58 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 2: our strengths and cultures one and our uniqueness and from 59 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 2: a tourism element is they're coming in droves and to 60 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 2: celebrate it through something something so big as motorsport awesome. 61 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 2: Yeah it is. 62 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,519 Speaker 1: It's wonderful to see now. I tell you what, what's 63 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 1: you know like it's quite noisy out here. There's no 64 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: doubt about belly here. Do we love it? 65 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:36,679 Speaker 2: I love that. 66 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 1: What's the you know, what's the program looking like throughout 67 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:41,959 Speaker 1: the day? 68 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 2: Yeah, big we've gone again once again. We've gone We've 69 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: gone big again. Sometimes we feel like we've bitten off 70 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 2: of more than we can chew, especially when people are 71 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: running around eleven o'clock last night, Katie, I'll be honest, no, 72 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 2: but look we've got we've got Obviously, supercars is what 73 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 2: we're here to play with. We've got these little s 74 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 2: five thousands that potentially break the track record. I've heard. 75 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 2: They look like a little Formula one car that guys 76 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 2: that don't haven't seen them before. Porsches behind us if 77 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 2: you can hear us. We've got improved production. And then 78 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: we've just gone all out with our drag components. So 79 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 2: we've got literally top field drags, six of the best 80 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 2: racing tonight and tomorrow night, coupled with door slammers, and 81 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 2: we've got a few locals running through. There's literally it's 82 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 2: going to go mad. And what the guys do from 83 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: a drag racing component is actually pretty special. From the theatrics, pyrotechnics, flames, 84 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 2: the whole works like the the god guns blazing. 85 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: It's phenomenal. 86 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 2: Now. 87 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: What I love as well, though, is if you come 88 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: out with the kids, there's not just the racing for 89 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: the kids to keep an eye on. There's also this 90 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: kids zone. There's a teenager zone now as well. And somebody, 91 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: well Sarah who's on breakfast, had suggested, is it just 92 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: like a wall where they can take a selfie? Do that? 93 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: I apologie? Should I should have said, I'm talking about 94 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: all the on track stuff. There's a bunch to do 95 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: off track, probably more list and it's all listed on 96 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 2: our website supercarsdo on dot com dot you, sorry, do 97 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 2: on supercars dot com dot you. But we've got little 98 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 2: peewee dirt bikes, the kids can ride, arcade machines, bands, 99 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 2: very jillful little ones like the whole whole thing. We've 100 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 2: actually reconverted, for those that know Hidden Valley the track 101 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 2: center into basically the kid's den that we've labeled it. 102 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 2: So there is stuff going on everywhere. 103 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: How cool. I mean, that's what you want, isn't it. 104 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: You want to be able to come out, make a 105 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: whole weekend of it and to entertain the whole family, 106 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: which I think is something wonderful that you can do 107 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: out here. How many people are we expecting this weekend? 108 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 2: Good point. So we're up on corporate, which is a 109 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: really good test case in terms of how many were 110 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: going to get through the gates. So last year we 111 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 2: had I think it was around about thirty eight thousand 112 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: over the weekend, which is back to kind of twenty 113 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 2: fifteen to sixteen levels. There was a bit of a 114 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 2: decline there, and obviously through COVID we've experienced low levels. Look, 115 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 2: i'd love to be announcing something with a four in 116 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 2: front of it, to be quite honest. So I probably 117 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 2: shouldn't be saying that. My team's going to shoot me 118 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 2: for saying that a lot on air, But that's the 119 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 2: hope that I've got for the support, in particular from 120 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 2: a DRAGS component. Their next level we'll watch or Fields 121 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 2: will bring. Hopefully there's more people. So yeah, I'm hoping 122 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 2: that comes someday. We're going big. 123 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,679 Speaker 1: How awesome will It's such a phenomenal weekend, Tim, big question. 124 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: When do you get to sleep again? Yeah? 125 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, this weekend, Derec. 126 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 2: Good question. And I can't even talk for some of 127 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 2: the guys that are your peoples you're working with. Yeah, jeez, 128 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 2: there's some sore eyes last night. Look, well, we've got 129 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 2: territory after this, so then we might have a bit 130 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 2: of a well, blow some stuff up and then we 131 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 2: might have a bit of a bit of a breast day. 132 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 1: Oh goodness made What a busy time for you guys, 133 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: but what a fabulous time hey, Like Darwin is absolutely 134 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: bustling at the moment, which I think is phenomenal to 135 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: see there's tourists everywhere. It's so great to see the 136 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: town the way that it is right now. 137 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you, And this is this is my message 138 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 2: and I think I've said it to Blue in the 139 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 2: face the last four years. Like events due drive conversion 140 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: on tourism. We're seeing that. Look, the more the more 141 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: events that can get through the territory, the better. Our 142 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 2: biggest problem now is hotel rooms. Like we just got it. 143 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 2: We need we need to want to feel sorry, We 144 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 2: need more to for people to come. We're getting the demand. 145 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 2: We're seeing this now celebrated in such a fantastic way 146 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 2: with our First Nations culture. It's all coming together big. 147 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: It hasn't been for you guys, because we're talking quite 148 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 1: a bit about it earlier this morning. In terms of staffing, 149 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:57,919 Speaker 1: have you been able to fill all those stuff obviously 150 00:05:58,000 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: that you need to Has it been tough. 151 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 2: Though this year it's been tough, and we relied a 152 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 2: lot on the contractors locally that help us out, obviously 153 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 2: security and our customer service staff for the big volumes. 154 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 2: They're doing it tough. We're not gonna lie. The good 155 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 2: thing is our reputation kind of gets people here to 156 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 2: enjoy what we've got to do. We're lucky enough that 157 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 2: you know, if you work at if you work at 158 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: the supercars, you see some pretty cool stuff drough the day, 159 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: so that that's a hook. But look, we're not We're 160 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:22,559 Speaker 2: not adverse to the challenges that we're seeing right across 161 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 2: the board, and my colleagues down south in different states 162 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 2: and jurisdictions are all the same boat. It's hard, so 163 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: but we got there. What we're getting there where she 164 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 2: thought over yet that it's another thing. I'm going to 165 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 2: shoot me, But look, it's just starting. We'll get there. 166 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 2: Throw o. 167 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: It's and it's where else would you want to be? 168 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: I mean, honestly, it's fantastic this weekend. The weather has 169 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: just turned it on this morning, got a bit of 170 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: a cool change, so perfect opportunity to get out here 171 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: and enjoy it all. 172 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, please and everyone for the whole family, like you 173 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 2: said Katie, Come out, enjoy it. We've got jam packed 174 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: on track program which you can hear basicly around behind us, 175 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: play to do for the for the kids, and really 176 00:06:57,839 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 2: enjoy what we got to offer here at Hidden Valley. 177 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: The thing I do just want to very quickly ask 178 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: you about is I know that there is obviously the 179 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 1: bus service as well. People can jump on a public 180 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: bus and come. 181 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 2: Out come Yeah, absolutely so over on twit your ticket 182 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 2: completely integrated transport. So there's plenty of hubs from right 183 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 2: around Darwin, the rural areas as well. Once again supercars, 184 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 2: Darwin dot com, dot Au. All informations on there encourage 185 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 2: people to jump on. Just plan their day a little bit. 186 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 2: There is there is a lot to do and there's 187 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 2: a jam back program, so make sure you don't miss out. 188 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: Get in front of getting early, jump on the prane 189 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 2: and come out and joy yourself absolutely well. 190 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: Tim watsonon CEO of NT Major Events, good to speak 191 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: with you this morning. 192 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: Well it's a pleasure, Katie. Thank you