History
The concept began in Sydney, Australia in 1980 known as The Rock ‘n’ Roll Eisteddfod, a NSW Arts Council sponsored-event, including some Sydney high schools at the historic Hordern Pavilion. The idea has been developed by Sydney radio station 2SM. With support from Coca-Cola, the NSW Arts Council promoted the event as an example of local youth culture in action.
In 1988 the New South Wales Health Department was the first to see the Rock Eisteddfod as an opportunity to deliver the “Quit For Life” anti-smoking message to secondary school students in New South Wales. At the same time, Kerrie Hayes and Peter Sjoquist AM (Hayes & Sjoquist Productions) took over and revitalised the event which is now know nationally as Rock Eisteddfod Challenge.
In 1993 the event was introduced into New Zealand, where it is branded the Smokefree Stage Challenge, starting with 20 schools and 2000 participants, and has grown to include 171 schools and 16,381 participants.
In 1995 Inspector Mark Pontin of the Hampshire Constabulary visited Australia on a Churchill Scholarship. He saw the Australian Rock Eisteddfod Challenge first hand and was so impressed that he persuaded the Chief Constable to introduce it to their area of the UK. In 1996 the inaugural event of the Rock Challenge was staged in Portsmouth with 11 schools and 800 students. This has now turned into a national series of competitions, usually starting in Aberdeen in February and running through many parts of the UK (including London, at the Hackney Empire) until the northern and southern Grand Finals around the end of May / beginning of June.
Rock Eisteddfod events are now staged in several locations worldwide. New Zealand, Germany, the U.S. (but in 2003 stopped in the US), United Kingdom, Japan, Dubai and South Africa have all taken up the Global Rock Challenge. A sister event The Croc Festival stages a series of festivals in remote and regional areas of Australia, aimed at both indigenous and non-indigenous communities are held each year. In addition to performing, the three day festivals provide the opportunity for rural and remote students to participate in many health, education, employment, sport, visual and performing activities during the day.
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