FESTIVAL HAS PLAN FOR YOUR PUP PALS
DOGS have been part of the Carnival of Flowers ever since the Toowoomba Thistle Band’s drum major Hugh Morgan’s tartan-clad dog Puppy marched alongside the ensemble at the very first parade in 1950.
And with a ‘pawfect’ program full of pet-friendly activities for the monthlong event this year, tails are set to be wagging.
PARK Motor Inn manager Jenny Burling is nervously eyeing the State Government’s efforts to rein in the Beenleigh Covid cluster, fearing any outbreak would spell an early end to the Carnival of Flowers.
“I’m not worried about us going into lockdown, but if the Brisbane area goes into lockdown we are in trouble,” she said.
“About 75 per cent of our customers are from Brisbane.”
Toowoomba’s hotels are booked to capacity ahead of the Carnival of Flowers’ signature event – the Festival of Food and Wine this weekend.
For three days thousands of visitors from southeast Qld will pour into Toowoomba bringing a much-needed economic boost to our bars, restaurants and hotels.
While Queensland chief health officer Jeanette Young said the threat of a wide- spread outbreak was decreasing, just one or two active cases in the community could derail the carnival.
“I am trying to be positive,” Ms Burling said.
“If there is a lockdown it will be close to devastating.
“It has been a hard two years, and we were only managing here.”
At the Potters Boutique Hotel, manager Sharon Yosh is also upbeat as her hotel is booked out for the weekend.
“I am just praying for a miracle,” she said.
“I am not going to be happy if Brisbane goes into lockdown – the whole of Toowoomba won’t be happy.”
The industry has been hit with rolling lockdowns since the Covid pandemic arrived in Australia in early 2020.
Each time the cancellations came fast and Ms Yosh said they hit casual hotel staff the hardest.
“The housekeepers who worked for the last lockdown didn’t get any work, so they didn’t get paid,” she said.
“People miss out on work, and it’s just another awful chapter in the Covid drama.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was only a matter of time before a major outbreak of the Delta strain.
“We should go out and get vaccinated now because the virus will eventually show up in the community,” she said.
More than 300 GPs are assisting with the vaccine rollout along with efforts at Queensland Health hospital and clinics.
“I think people do want to get vaccinated; now is the time to roll up sleeves,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
As of 10am on Monday, Queensland Health has recorded no locally acquired Covid cases.
TO BOOK A JAB, PHONE YOUR GP OR GO TO VACCINEBOOKINGS. HEALTH.QLD.GOV.AU.