Money to reignite ag shows
Agricultural societies and communities are set for a financial boost to help reignite their annual shows when the COVID-19 threat has passed.
The Federal Government will provide $36-million to support Australia’s 580 agricultural shows, which generate an estimated $1-billion to the national economy each year, attract six-million patrons annually and have support from 50,000 volunteers.
Depending on timing, the pandemic has forced organisers of most agricultural shows, which have been traditional annual events and a part of life in Wimmera, Mallee and Grampians district communities, to abandon their events.
Agricultural shows make up a significant part of a major-events calendar across the region.
Wimmera Development Association research has revealed that cancellation of events between March and May this year cost the Wimmera and southern Mallee about $23-million.
Horsham Agricultural Society president Zack Currie said the funding was great news and based on guidelines Horsham Show would be eligible for up to $15,000.
“This will help us cover various operational costs such as utilities, rent, maintenance and all the usual fees we incur,” he said.
“We’ve been working it all out since the announcement and it is going to be a great help in keeping us ticking along.
“It is a very different environment at the moment, we have had to learn to adapt. This specific funding has been really well received by the show community.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Regional Development Minister Michael Mccormack said agricultural shows were part of the fabric of regional Australia.
“They create social bonds and improve mental health in parts of regional Australia where distance, drought, bushfires and now COVID-19 have caused significant hardship and distress,” he said.
One-off reimbursement
Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said the Supporting Agricultural Shows program was a one-off reimbursement to agricultural show societies to deal with cashflow pressures caused by pandemic-related cancellations.
“This money goes right down to the small country shows because we acknowledge the role shows play in connecting agriculture and regional Australia to metropolitan Australians,” he said.
“There is a risk that if we don’t help not only could royal shows cease to function the way they are now but also those small shows, all of which are run by volunteers, could fold.”
Organisers across the region have either been inventive by developing virtual online show competitions or forthcoming in declaring preparations to relaunch their events in 2021.
National agricultural shows peak body Agriculture Shows Australia made the submission to the Federal Government and welcomed the funding announcement.
Chairman Rob Wilson said support would enable the consideration and planning to begin for agricultural shows in 2021.
“It will provide communities and the inter-related stakeholders and businesses the confidence to engage and participate, to ensure these Australian iconic events continue,” he said.
The Supporting Agricultural Shows program has three parts – • $10-million in operational support for regional show societies. Shows will be able to claim up to $10,000 if their attendance last year was less than 2000, up to $15,000 if their attendance was between 2000 and 4999 and up to $70,000 if their attendance was more than 5000. • $26-million in operational support for Royal Agricultural Show societies which can additionally claim for unrecoverable costs associated with preparing for cancelled shows. • $100,000 in operational support for Agricultural Shows Australia’s Rural Ambassador Program.