Overview
- Amanda Jackes, the festival’s director and co‑founder, announced Hauritz’s death on Monday, less than three weeks before this year’s six‑day event opens.
- Hauritz launched the Maleny Folk Festival in 1987 and moved it to Woodford in 1994, developing Woodfordia into a 500‑acre cultural parkland.
- The festival now hosts roughly 120,000–125,000 attendees each year, creating a temporary village focused on music, ideas and community.
- Woodfordia received international recognition in 2023 with UNESCO’s Jeonju International Award for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage, reflecting Hauritz’s long‑term stewardship.
- Recent reports noted his declining health, including a stroke during last year’s festival, and organizers have not detailed the circumstances of his passing as tributes flow from the community and his family.