1980
Eight Sydney schools took part in the “Rock N Roll Eisteddfod” at the Hordern Pavilion. The event was run by 2SM which at the time was Sydney’s number one youth music station. Bidwell High School took out first place with their performance “Bad Girls”. |
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1988
Peter and Helen Sjoquist took over the running of the event, revitalising it under the new name “Rock Eisteddfod”. With the support of NSW Health, the drug-free lifestyle message was integrated with the joy and excitement of performing.
The very first National TV Special was broadcast by the Nine Network with First Place going to Sarah Redfern High School.
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1992
The first Global Rock Challenge™ tour took place with students from across Australia travelling to the USA and performing at Disneyland. |
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1993
The event was introduced to New Zealand. In 2009, nearly 15,000 students will take part in the event which is known as “Stage Challenge”. Nearly 50% of all New Zealand high schools participate in the event.
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1996
The brand evolved into “Rock Eisteddfod Challenge” as the event continued to grow and act as a measure of youth culture and expression.
The event was introduced into the UK with the inaugural event staged in Portsmouth with 11 schools and 800 students. Bruce Gyngell was the inaugural Chairman of the Be Your Best Foundation who produces the event in the UK.
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1997
The former Director of Substance Abuse at the World Health Organisation, Mr Hans Emblad stated that Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® was the “best prevention programme I have seen in the 25 years work in the area of substance abuse”.
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1998
Croc Festival® was developed to promote health and education to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in remote and rural Australia. Croc Festival® grew for ten years, with the final year in 2007 seeing 15,000 students from 320 participate in these three day festivals.
Global Rock Challenge™ tours took Australian students to Europe and the Philippines.
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2000
A Global Rock Challenge™ tour visited the USA
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2001
Professor Don Nutbeam, Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine at University of Sydney, released the results of a three year study on resiliency by Dr Rose Grunstein. The research showed that students from participating schools are more resilient and less likely to smoke marijuana or tobacco, binge drink or take other drugs as a result of their participation in Rock Eisteddfod Challenge®. You can read a summary of that research here. |
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2003
Former US Ambassador for HIV-AIDS, Dr Jack Chow, asked Peter Sjoquist if he could assist in the prevention and transmission of HIV in South African schools by launching the Global Rock Challenge™ in South Africa. More than 2,000 students from 27 schools from Johannesburg and surrounding townships took part.
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2004
J Rock™ was introduced, giving primary school students the famous Global Rock Challenge™ super-star experience. |
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2006
Japan took on the Challenge with the first event held to coincide with a Global Rock Challenge™ Tour involving students from both Australia and the UK.
RAW™ Division was introduced with a “no set” rule, providing schools with the opportunity to focus on the performance elements of dance and drama.
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2008
The University of Auckland released initial findings of research into the psychological outcomes of participation in Global Rock Challenge™ events, showing participants are provided with unique opportunities to improve their psychological well-being. A summary of the interim findings can be found here. |
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2009
Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® celebrates it’s 30th anniversary.
By now more than 1 million young people have performed on stages from Belfast to Albany, Johannesburg to Thursday Island, Dresden to Melbourne, Aberdeen to Auckland and everywhere in between as part of Global Rock Challenge™. The event continues to be a celebration of youth expression, creativity, hope, persistence, health and talent.
Research report from the UK is released with positive results. You can read a summary of the findings here.
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2010
For the first time in 30 years, the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® events cannot run because of insufficient funding on the tail end of the Global Financial Crisis.
Global Rock Challenge™ events still flourish in the UK, New Zealand, Dubai, Germany and Japan.
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2011
Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® returned with renewed energy!
All countries in Global Rock Challenge™ were invited to participate in the first truly Global competition through the use of the internet.
J Rock RAW™ was introduced for Primary Schools in Australia.
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