Rachella Thomas | Event Kit
2 minutes with Rachella Thomas
Occupation: Principal consultant and mentor
Business: Event Kit
City: Torquay
Age: 41
Give us the elevator pitch...what is Event Kit all about?
Event Kit is a ready-to-use resource for individuals and businesses who need event guidance to help them plan and coordinate their events. I offer downloadable ready-to-use event management tools and templates, plus personalised mentoring.
How did you come up with the idea to launch an online event management and coaching resource?
It was my own experience of being new to event organising - I wasted so much time trying to work out what I needed to do on my own. I got there eventually, but I used up a lot of time and energy and stress.
What makes a good event?
There’s a million organisational, stylistic and entertaining things you need to tick off to make a good event, but the one thing that will make an event great is quality food and great service. People always remember the food!
What are the major problems that event organisers can overlook?
Most event organisers underestimate how complicated it will be, especially when it’s not your primary profession. Legal compliance, safety regulations and knowing the right documentation to draft up is what usually trips up new event organisers.
Career highlights as an event manager?
As a major, outdoor, large-scale event manager, I’ve had many highlights. But my most memorable single experience is as Event Manager for Melbourne Food and Wine Festival - I worked with Ferran Adria when he toured to Melbourne in 2008.
Tell us about your other project Eat Geelong?
Eat Geelong is my personal project. It follows my own sea change from Melbourne to the surf coast. Initially sceptical about Geelong’s culinary scene, I was blown away by the dynamic food, wine and coffee culture that is brewing in the region. Eat Geelong is my way of celebrating it and showcasing it to the rest of Australia.
Day trip to Geelong, where should we eat?
Coffee - Hucksters & Co
Breakfast - Freckleduck
Wine - Geelong Cellar Door
Lunch - Bear & Bean or Flying Brick Cider Co
Dinner - Mexican Republic or Wah Wah Gee