ABBA & Elvis In The Outback

By showcasing the town’s creativity and resilience in the face of population decline and natural disasters, the film creates long-term social benefits by strengthening community identity (offering a sense of belonging and collective purpose), enhancing regional tourism (drawing visitors from outside the region, to boost local businesses, create jobs, and highlight the town as a destination for future tourism) and building resilience through creativity (by transforming adversity into a positive cultural event, the festival helps build social capital, demonstrating the community’s capacity to adapt and thrive despite challenges).

Our aim is to help this regional NSW community to creatively engage with their cultural heritage and economic potential to counteract the pressures of depopulation and environmental hardship.

The film delves into several interwoven topics, including:
Community Resilience and Innovation: highlighting how Trundle, facing challenges such as depopulation, economic decline, and the impact of natural disasters, has creatively leveraged the festival to foster a sense of unity, pride, and hope within the community.
Environmental issues – capturing the emotional and logistical impact when the festival is unexpectedly cancelled due to severe flooding
Cultural Revitalisation: exploring the role of the Festival as a vehicle for cultural expression, showcasing an annual celebration that reflects local creativity, humour, and collective spirit
Economic and Tourism Development: interviews with local business owners, festival organisers and the community examine the economic ripple effect of the festival on Trundle and how the cancellation disrupted local businesses and the steps taken to reignite tourism and community engagement once the festival returns.

At its core, the documentary tells the story of a small rural community facing both external challenges, like natural disasters, and internal struggles with population decline. It captures the highs and lows of putting on a festival in such an environment—when the flood temporarily halts the celebration, the town’s spirit is tested, but its eventual comeback demonstrates the town’s unwavering determination to thrive against all odds. The film underscores the transformative power of arts and cultural events in fostering community connection, identity, and resilience. It shows how creative initiatives, like the Trundle Abba Festival, can be a catalyst for healing and renewal in rural areas, offering both a sense of hope and a platform for future growth. Ultimately, the documentary paints a powerful portrait of a town that refuses to be defeated by its challenges. It is a story of community spirit, creative perseverance and hope in the face of adversity.

From a local lens – we have a strong relationship with the Parkes Shire Council and community leaders. Through the support of our broadcast partner SBS, international sales agent Looking Glass International and interest from Stan were are hoping to reach a wide range of audiences.

– Visit and support rural towns and festivals to boost tourism and local economies.
– Engage with and support cultural initiatives by volunteering, attending, or donating.
– Advocate for policy change to ensure more government support for rural development.
– Share the story of Trundle and similar communities to raise awareness.
– Support arts organisations and contribute to funding rural creative projects.
– Stay informed about rural issues to become an advocate for change.