August 26, 2013
South Burnett councillor Damien Tessman said the “standard feedback” he had been getting so far about the South Burnett show holiday date was to keep it “as it is”.
“I wouldn’t say I have been inundated with opinions but everyone that has stopped me in the street has agreed with keeping it on the Monday,” he said.
“I don’t think I have had anyone who thought it was a good idea to shift it to the Wednesday.
“Even businesses have thought it would be too much of a hassle.
“If there needs to be a holiday, it should be on the Monday. Sometimes people forget that even the business owners sometimes look forward to a break.”
He said people should also not feel compelled to stay in the South Burnett.
“People are entitled to go away. If they didn’t feel they could leave, people from other regions wouldn’t visit us either,” he said.
Cr Tessmann said the Monday holiday gave people the option to have a break, go to the beach or go to the Ekka.
“I can see the benefit of keeping it on the Monday and it would have to be a pretty good, convincing argument to take it off it,” Cr Tessmann said.
Cr Tessmann said the suggestion of shifting the show holiday to Melbourne Cup Day would be a boost for Kumbia (which holds a race meeting that day).
“But that’s been tried in the past and wasn’t a raging success. But if there was a groundswell of opinion, I would look at it.”
Cr Tessmann said most people still valued long weekends.
“Nine day fortnights are not a mainstream thing at all,” he said.
“In reality not everyone has as generous conditions as the council workforce.”
He said the holiday would make no difference to farmers because they work every day anyway.
“If there has to be a public holiday, it’s best left on a Monday,” he said.
* * *
Cr Tessmann asked for feedback on his Facebook page.
Here are some of the comments:
Abigail Andersson: It’s too much to go on People’s Day. We went the first Friday of the Ekka and it was reasonable with lines/people/germs etc. It does affect business in the area when people take a long weekend away and on top of that we have to pay penalty rates to staff. We should abolish all public holidays. Life on the land doesn’t have ‘a day off’. Sunday isn’t a trading day. Small business cant afford to keep shelling out every time someone wants to gazette a holiday. Australia is too lucky a country to have this issue as the only thing we can be bothered bringing to ‘public debate’. Typically Australians will chuck a sickie at any rate, we are spoilt, that’s all it is.
Marian Petersen: Keep the Monday holiday please. At least you can do something for a long weekend whether it’s the Ekka or something else. A midweek holiday is too disruptive for businesses as well.
Mayleen Green: I don’t think the Ekka could cope with all regions going on Wednesday. Too many people. Please keep the holiday on Monday, so we can go down Saturday, go to the show Sunday and come home Monday. I have been doing that for years.
Kimberley McCullagh: Keep it on the Monday!
Leo Geraghty: Please keep it on the Monday as broken parts in the middle of a week are hard on business and employees and people can enjoy the Ekka during the weekend and have Monday to recoup before work on Tuesday.
John Selwood: Keep it on a Monday. Midweek is disruptive to planning.
* * *
Related articles
