Field days leader remains optimistic
“We had everything prepared and the site had been mowed and marked. But I’m glad we called it when we did because there would have been marquees going up last week and exhibitors would have been moving in – that’s why we called it when we did” – Terry Kiley
The president of the Mallee’s largest agricultural and agribusiness trade show at Speed says several communities are feeling the socio-economic fallout of cancelling the 2021 event.
Mallee Machinery Field Days president Terry Kiley said the town of less than 100 people was bracing for more than 8000 visitors, including farmers, exhibitors and tourists from across the country.
Mr Kiley said Victoria’s fifth COVID-19 lockdown forced Speed Lions Club, which organises the field days, to cancel the event for the second consecutive year.
“We were just three weeks out and really looking forward to it, but what can you do – it’s out of our hands,” he said.
“We had everything prepared and the site had been mowed and marked.
“But I’m glad we called it when we did because there would have been marquees going up last week and exhibitors would have been moving in – that’s why we called it when we did.”
Leaders are concerned the cancellation of the region’s primary agricultural event will extend far beyond the farming community it supports.
The field days serves as the biggest fundraising opportunity for Speed and its neighbouring communities. Organisers estimate the event generates between $50,000 and $100,000 each year.
Mr Kiley said 20 community groups across Speed, Tempy, Ouyen, Patchewollock and Hopetoun would miss out on key fundraising opportunities the field days provided.
“It’s an economic loss to us, but it’s also a big loss to local community groups that help us run it,” he said.
“There’s a couple of football clubs, including Sea Lake-nandaly Tigers and Ouyen United, and numerous school groups that help out with the event.
“There’s also Men’s Shed members from Hopetoun and Ouyen who help with parking.
“All these community groups get a dividend from the work they’re doing.”
Mr Kiley said Speed Lions Club contributed money to several causes each year, including Ouyen and District Hospital, Rural Northwest Health in Hopetoun and Sea Lake and District Hospital.
“We also have a program where we can give high school students about $750 to go to university or towards a trade,” he said.
“If there’s anyone who has a need locally, such as someone with cancer and they need to travel to Melbourne for appointments, we give them fuel vouchers and help with their accommodation costs.
“We also contribute to cancer research, heart disease and other medical conditions through our fundraising efforts.
“This is the only event we run for the year, so it has a big impact when we can’t run it.”
Mr Kiley said although it was a ‘big hit’ cancelling the event two years in a row, the Lions Club would forge ahead with plans for a 2022 event.
“It will be a limited event if it keeps getting cancelled. This year we ran at a bigger loss than last year due to 2020’s cancellation,” he said.
“But hopefully people will get vaccinated and there will come a point when we can run events without all the stress associated with the pandemic in the future.”