Tourism heartbreak as rodeo cancelled
WARWICK has built its reputation on being the Rose and Rodeo City — but for the first time in 55 years, the latter will fail to ring true.
Following the shock announcement that the 2020 Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft has been cancelled, the wider tourism community has been frank in it’s heartbreak, and concerns about the future.
At Rose City Caravan Park, Michelle Cox said it was yet another blow for small business struggling to keep on their feet.
“That’s it, our last bastion of hope for the year,” Mrs Cox said.
“We’ve been alright this month, but it’s not been the best of years.
“I think everyone’s suffered and for us, it’s really disappointing, but I feel for the Warwick Show and Rodeo Society, it’s tough.”
Mrs Cox even feared it would be the last straw for some.
“I think there will be some businesses that won’t survive it, that this will be the thing that tips them over the edge,” she said.
“It’s really hard. You look forward to seeing new faces, returned faces.
“We have a gentleman that books with us for that week ever year — he won’t be coming now.”
The knock follows on from similar disappointment following the earlier cancellation of Jumpers and Jazz.
Without the two biggest tourist drivers, the economy was bound to reel, according to McNevin’s Warwick Motel owner Debbie Bender.
“It’s those events that thrive the economy in Warwick,” she said.
“We’ve been booked out for rodeo for a while, people usually book a year in advance so it certainly will hurt.”
According to rodeo president Gerard O’Leary, the annual October event brought an estimated $5-6 million a year to Warwick.