Cancellations Hit South Burnett

The Kingaroy Men’s Shed sign outside Kingaroy Airport on Saturday afternoon

March 14, 2020

Many South Burnett event organisers have heeded Federal Government advice and cancelled events in a bid to slow the transmission of COVID-19 within the local community.

On Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined with State and Territory leaders to recommend all non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people be suspended from Monday (March 16).

This followed a recommendation from Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy at a COAG meeting.

The Prime Minister said the cancellation would not be extended to schools, universities, public transport or airports.

However, many national sporting codes had already cancelled events or locked out spectators ahead of Monday’s deadline and a similar trend has occurred locally.

In the South Burnett:

The South Burnett Speedway Club cancelled its race meeting planned for Saturday night.

“With one confirmed case in Kingaroy and reports of other unconfirmed cases around the area, we diligently want to do the right thing by all concerned,” a club spokesperson said.

“Any other decisions relating to other scheduled meetings will be made in due course.”

The Kingaroy Men’s Shed also postponed its Camp Oven Under The Stars evening which was to be held near Kingaroy Airport on Saturday. The men did go ahead, though, with the official opening of their toilet block. The group hopes to hold its Camp Oven event later in the year.

The Kumbia Catholic community announced that its St Patrick’s Green Earth Day event planned for Sunday would be postponed “owing to the presence of coronavirus in Kingaroy and the vulnerability of many of our workers and patrons”. They hope to reschedule this for a later date.

A decision to postpone the South Burnett Rugby League Centenary Dinner – due to be held at Kingaroy Town Hall on April 4 – was made on Friday morning.

“The decision was not made lightly however given the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 situation, it was made to ensure that the event, when held, is an event befitting such a momentous achievement for rugby league in the South Burnett,” SBRL president David Tierney said.

“Given the current climate, a decision won’t be made on the new date until more is known.”

St John’s Lutheran School has cancelled its “Hip Hop Hooray” Family Easter Festival which was to be held next Friday (March 20).

Sing Australia’s Kingaroy group will go into recess after Monday night (March 16) until the COVID-19 issue passes.

The Little Athletics Queensland State Championships – which had multiple participants from the South Burnett and was to be held in Brisbane from March 13-15 – was cancelled at the last minute.

Western Downs Regional Council has announced that its Big Skies Festival, which was to be held from April 29-May 3 at Jimbour House, has been cancelled “in compliance with advice from the Australian Government’s Chief Medical Officer”.

UPDATE: Next weekend’s Goomeri Show has been postponed. The announcement was made by organisers on Saturday night.

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Nationally, events that have been cancelled include:

The Australian Grand Prix – March 12-15.

Dark Mofo in Hobart – June 10-22. MONA founder David Walsh said on Wednesday the festival would not go ahead because of the financial risk posed by COVID-19.

Sydney Royal Easter Show, which was to be held from March 16 to April 6.

Melbourne Comedy Festival – March 25-April 19.

AFL Round 1, from March 19-22, will go ahead but spectators will be barred from grounds.

Spectators will be banned from NRL games from Round 2.

Super Rugby games after Round 7 will go ahead without spectators.

Fans have also been locked out of the NBL Grand Final series.

In cricket, Australia’s one-day series against New Zealand has been abandoned.

Queensland Surf Life Saving has suspended all its programs.

Australian Swimming Championships and Age Championships in Perth have been cancelled. Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell said the decision was based on the health and safety of the swimming community and their wider families.

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