*** Exclusive ***
FLOODS, fire, drought and, of course, Covid, failed to sink the spirit of Queensland agricultural shows last year, with only 13 of 129 cancelled.
For 10 months in 2020, Queensland Shows general manager, Trevor Beckingham, formulated an “industry plan” that Queensland Health approved, allowing the 2021 season to run unabated.
It was the only State to produce such a document – NSW cancelled many shows last year – and not a single positive Covid case was contracted through attendance at an agricultural show.
“It’s a proud record and I’m very proud of the whole show movement,” Mr Beckingham said.
“It humbled me that the people out there in those rural communities did such an amazing job last year, delivering shows despite the adversity being thrown at them.
“And, that’s why I absolutely love working with them because of their resilience and their passion. The passion they have is just second to none.”
Mr Beckingham said he has worked “hammer and tong” over the past three years to ensure regional and remote communities received the economic and social bonus their show brought.
“And this is what people don’t understand . . . $960 million is spent in these regional communities through the shows happening,” he said.
“That is the economic impact of shows in Queensland every year and that’s why I really get upset when the previous (Queensland) chief medical officer says things like, ‘we brought the football up here because of the economic impact it brings’.
“Our economic impact is statewide. It’s not just South East. It is statewide.
“But, it’s also mental welfare. I was at Winton last year, I did the opening of their show and I was talking to a couple of guys and these were farmers who had come in.
“This was their first time off the property in two years and they needed to catch up with people. It’s just that social interaction.”
Mr Beckingham said he had tried his “darndest” to talk to Queensland Health since March 2020.
And, with the “magical” 90 per cent vaccination level reached on February 8, he is now seeking urgent clarity on the restrictions lifted.
“As of right here, right now, Queensland Health has not spoken to us, not one word directly, since the start of the pandemic,” Mr Beckingham said.
“They’re not talking to the people who know what goes on, on showgrounds. Yet they make all of these rules and regulations to cover us but they’re not talking to us.
“And this is what frustrates me, all of the rules and regulations have been promulgated out of George Street, Brisbane and that’s all they know.
“They know an ivory tower, they wouldn’t know a cow if they fell over it, let alone the difference between a beef and a dairy cow.
“But, we’ve got shows that are going ahead and that’s the shining light on the horizon.”
Mr Beckingham said in 2022 only three shows have so far cancelled, with others choosing to postpone as they await brighter days.
He said, however, another nemesis other than the Omicron variant lay in wait for agricultural shows this year … the anti-vaccination movement.
“Anti-vaxxers” are allegedly harassing attendees at events held at showgrounds, with many people preferring to return home rather than run the “gauntlet”.
As the show season starts, Mr Beckingham is holding his breath.
“We’ve got some irresponsible people who are ruining it because they’re not respecting anyone else’s position but they’re prepared to go out and jeopardise events,” he said.
“But, what do you do?
“The bottom line is, we’re not making the rules. The coronavirus is bringing out the best and worst in people and, unfortunately, we’re seeing too much of the worst in people.”
According to Mr Beckingham, most shows in 2021 had record attendance. “There was no reticence last year. We put it on and they turned up.”
This year, the concern is that the “fear campaign” about shows being super-spreader events – combined with anti-vaccination protests – will dramatically impact attendance.
“We’re not a super-spreader event, we proved that last year, but unfortunately, the fear campaigners have been very, very successful.
“I believe shows are of the community, by the community, for the community but the trouble is these communities are now being destroyed.”
The Show Must Go On ….
Confirmed Show Dates 2022
Bell – February 26/27
Proston – March 4 and 5
Tara – March 5
Inglewood – March 12 and 13
Warwick – March 19 to 21
Toowoomba – March 25 to 27
Stanthorpe – April 23 and 24
Cooya – May 28.
