July 28, 2021
Queensland’s decision to shut its border with NSW has led to the cancellation of Boondooma Homestead’s popular “Scots In The Bush” festival.
The decision not to hold this year’s event – which was planned for August 19-22 – was announced on Wednesday.
Boondooma Homestead Association secretary Judy Brandt said the decision had been “very difficult” for members to make.
“We know that 30 to 40 per cent of visitors who camp out at Scots In The Bush live in NSW, and so do a large number of our stallholders,” Judy said.
“Without those visitors and stallholders, the festival would run at a loss.
“Our association really doesn’t have the funds to carry that, so cancelling this year seemed the best option.”
Judy said the Association had also considered postponing the festival until September.
However, the evolving nature of the NSW lockdown meant the current situation on border closures might still be the same in a few months time.
Judy said Scots In The Bush had been growing steadily year after year and the committee had expected this year’s outing to be the biggest yet.
But one small consolation was that most people seemed to agree with the committee’s decision.
“We’ve received a lot of support since we announced the cancellation and a lot of people have told us they think we’re doing the right thing,” Judy said.
She said the committee was hopeful the pandemic would right itself by the time the Homestead runs its annual Spirit Of The Bush music festival next April.
