THE future of the historic Seymour Show is in jeopardy, with organisers scrambling to find a new date to hold the event after a schedule change caused it to clash with the Royal Melbourne Show.
In a letter sent to show groups around the state the Victorian Agricultural Shows group (VAS) announced it would change the dates of the 2011 Royal Melbourne Show for ‘business reasons’.
But the change means the Royal Melbourne Show will now run until October 4. The Seymour Show was scheduled to run on Saturday, October 2.
Previously, the Royal Melbourne Show finished on the last Saturday of September.
Lifetime member and former president of the Seymour Agricultural Show Society Margot Green said the reshuffle made booking carnival rides, exhibitors, stall holders, judges and show bag providers for the event almost impossible.
“There’s been no consultation, they just sent the letter saying this is what they’re doing,” Mrs Green said.
The Seymour Show is due to celebrate its 153rd anniversary this year.
It has been running since 1858.
Mrs Green said organisers were desperately looking at alternative dates but “it isn’t looking good.”
“We can’t have it the following Saturday because Wangaratta, Shepparton and Sunbury all have their shows on.
“We can’t get anyone on the Saturday, we could try for the Sunday but it would mean that the showmen and everyone would have to try and get here by the Saturday night or very early Sunday morning to set up and I don’t know that they’d be able to do that,” Mrs Green said.
“I just don’t see how it is going to happen.”
Show season runs in October during both the football and cricket off-season, she said.
“Otherwise the (sports) reserves are all being used,” Mrs Green said.
“The only reserve we can use is Kings Park; it’s the only one that that has the appropriate facilities.
“I’m not saying that it is definite that it won’t go ahead, but I’ll say that I’m 96 per cent certain it won’t run,” she said.
Mrs Green, who is also a member of the Central and Upper Goulburn Groups Association, said she knew of 16 show groups that had been affected by the VAS decision.
“It’s a flow-on effect,” she said.
“It should have just been left alone.”
Mrs Green said losing the show would cost the local economy thousands.
“Of course we have a lot of people that come here for the show, they use the facilities, they buy things from places like the footy club, they open their bar and have a kiosk,” she said.
‘There are a lot of people that use accommodation as well, it will affect businesses,” she said.
Member for Seymour Cindy McLeish said she had only heard about the possible cancellation of the show last week.
She said she would arrange a meeting with Mrs Green.
“First, I think we need to see clarification and understand what is going on,” Ms McLeish said.
“Then we can see what can be done,’
Ms McLeish said she would be horrified if the Seymour Show had to be cancelled.
“It brings towns together, it’s a big thing for the town,” Ms McLeish said.
She said she shared Mrs Green’s concerns for the local economy and would work with her to find an alternative.
Meanwhile, Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell said the State Government needed to step in immediately.
“The show dates are set by the Victorian Government and Mr Mitchell has demanded answers from the Baillieu Government but has yet to receive a response,” a spokesperson for the MP said.
The spokesperson said Mr Mitchell knew that the Seymour Show was an important event on the local calendar and was looking into the issue.
Mrs Green said she would fight for the show to go on and urged the community to join her.
