David Stretch cut his teeth in the commercial world but passion for live experiences and community enrichment through performing arts makes him satisfied in his job.
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Stretch and his family arrived in the region in 2004 when he took over ownership of the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine. After selling the theatre in 2014, he moved into the marketing and business development co-ordinator role at Bendigo Venues and Events.
"Bendigo is fantastic. It's natural and built environment is extraordinary and the people I deal with are engaged," he said. "When (I started here) the gallery was hitting its straps, new bars and restaurants were opening and there was a great feeling of positivity that was palpable. (I knew) this was where I wanted to call home."
But his career in performing arts promotion began in the 1980s as a 19-year-old student.
In 1986 while studying at Monash, Stretch seized an opportunity to work at the Village Green Hotel to promote bands and live gigs.
"I was doing things like putting band posters up, delivering riders, liaising with tour managers and getting a really good appreciation of the rock and roll industry in the mid to late '80s," he said. "I realised quickly that while my band had gigs, we weren't much good and my talents were better used elsewhere."
From there he moved into venue management with stints at the Toorak Hotel, Metro Nightclub and the New Orleans Tavern in Chapel Street.
In 2000 he began running entertainment events for Ford alongside the V8 Supercars that toured the country before stepping out on his own to work with a range of corporate clients.
It wasn't until 2002 that he first encountered Bendigo.
"I was putting on a concert for Harness Racing Victoria at Lords Raceway with Troy Cassar-Daley and I'll never for the disaster (it was), he said. "We had torrential rain on a huge outdoor stage and after arriving at 9am to set up, the sails had blown out and the stage was covered in water.
"The trucks wouldn't unpack. We ended up shifting to sheds out the back and put on great show. But when I think of Bendigo, that's what think about."
But his wet and wild trip to central Victoria uncovered his next project and in 2004 he and his wife Sarah bought the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine.
"I had developed my business to a point where I didn't need to be (on site) and was keen to explore the opportunity of moving to country," Stretch said.
"We visited Castlemaine and saw Theatre Royal was for sale. We met owner John Walter and...two weeks later set up a plan and bought the Theatre Royal."
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Stretch's background in entertainment combined with Sarah's experience as a restaurateur gave them a combined set of skills but it wasn't enough for a bright start.
"We had no idea of the town, running a business and had never done anything like it," Stretch said. "We had dangerous combination of money and arrogance and were pretty cavalier. Unfortunately, that didn't pan out well.
"The first 12 months were tough. In early 2005 decided to put concert sound and lighting and utilised my contacts to develop (the theatre for) live entertainment. With the (new) commercial kitchen and PA infrastructure, it hit its straps. We got great acts into the room and things snowballed.
"We were there for nearly 10 years and are pleased, when we look back at selling in 2014, that we left a great legacy. It is established as a nationally renowned entertainment venue, we founded an artist market that is still going and vibrant, and got a heritage listing for the building, which is great.
"It also opened my eyes to broader non-financial benefits of arts in regional rural settings - the important role that performing arts can play in binding a community and bringing it together."
Gathering people together in the name of performing arts would be a significant feature in Stretch's next, and current, role with Bendigo Venues and Events. He oversaw the opening of Ulumbarra Theatre with the rest of the BVE team.
"I had every intention returning to Melbourne," Stretch said. "But I loved the idea of being involved in a team opening a new theatre.
"There's level of romanticism to what we do in the arts. What gets my head off the pillow in the morning is, particularly since the Theatre Royal onwards, the notion of taking on an idea, developing the concept and bringing it to market, promoting it and seeing people connect with it and be enriched by it.
"For me, there's nothing I love better than to be standing at the back of room or side stage and seeing joy and enrichment. The best day of each month is the Cushion Concerts at The Capital, where you walk in and see kids and babies with their parents and grandparents.
"The earliest memories I have as a child are arts experiences. It might be movie or play, but there is something about the power of arts that means when I go to work, I can assist in providing an experience and enrichment in a community member or group. It's great fun."
Stretch also helped kickstart the Ulumbarra Foundation, a charity that is focus on the promotion of local performing arts.
"It's a registered charity to support Bendigo's arts community, its participants, students, organisations and audiences," he said. "In regional Victoria, there are no other registered charities dedicated to supporting performing arts.
"I enjoy working with creative people. I've got great colleagues and work for and organisation that appreciates the arts and invests in it.
"Arts plays such role in livability. I came from a commercial world to where I am now with a council-lens thinking of community benefits. It is really satisfying and important work."