Covid-19 restrictions in 2021 led to the cancellation of four Narrandera Shire flagship events which traditionally draw large crowds and boost the local economy.

Major events in neighbouring shires were also cancelled including Lockhart’s well-attended Spirit of the Land Festival and a number of agricultural shows in the region.

Narrandera Shire’s Covid casualties were the Narrandera Show, the Good Old Days Festival at Barellan, Narrandera’s popular 50s and 60s rock n’ roll festival Rockin’ on East and Narrandera Garden Club’s Camellia Show, most of which were cancelled for the second consecutive year.

Kurrajong also made the difficult decision to cancel performances in Narrandera and Leeton of the musical Mamma Mia scheduled for the September 10 and 11.

Covid lockdowns and restrictions meant that performers were unable to showcase their hard work to their communities where more than 450 people had purchased tickets.

The only bright spot was Barellan’s Clydie Art Trail around the Narrandera Shire which went ahead from September 1.

More than 170 large and small wooden silhouettes of Clydesdales were decorated by business houses, schools, art groups and individuals to create a festive atmosphere in Barellan, Binya, Narrandera and Leeton celebrating our pioneering heritage.

Barellan Working Clydesdale Committee Secretary Fiona Kibble said an art trail map was developed so visitors could take a self-drive tour to see the Clydie Art Trail.

Ms Kibble said the Good Old Days Festival set for October 2-3 at Barellan did not go ahead for the second time due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

“The unknowns for large mass gatherings, snap lockdowns and border restrictions made organising and planning the event difficult. We regrettably made this decision in the light of protecting the welfare of all those involved with the event. Our event relies on volunteers and visitors coming from every state in Australia to make it the success it is, and whether state borders will be open is yet to be decided,” she said.

Ms Kibble appealed to exhibitors and ticket holders to be patient as their refunds or rollovers to the 2022 event be determined.

Another Covid casualty was the annual MND Tribute to the Teams Drive, a fundraiser for Motor Neurone Disease, which was due to be held in late September.

The drive comprises horse, bullock, donkey, camel and mule teams following old stock routes for around 100km, and sleeping under the stars each night to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease awareness and research.

Ms Kibble said a refurbished kitchen in the Carroll Pavilion and new amenities block would be ready for the 2022 Good Old Days Festival on October 1-2.

Master horseman Bruce Bandy has stepped down as president of the festival committee after 12-and a-half-years, and was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by the committee. He will take on the role of Horse and Teams Event Manager.

The Good Old Days Festival drew a record crowd of 7500 in 2019 and has grown into the Narrandera Shire’s biggest event valued at $1.8 million to the regional economy.

It has been billed as the greatest gathering of harnessed animals in Australia and features the nation’s biggest composite team of 32 horses pulling the Clydesdale committee’s own fully laden wool wagon.

The Festival also incorporates the annual Furphy Festival, which draws enthusiasts from around the country to see some of the nation’s rarest collectible water carts on display.

Narrandera Show Society president Phil Wright is banking on the society being able to make a comeback next year to celebrate the show’s 140th anniversary and showcase one of the longest established agricultural shows in NSW.

The Society has a proud history of staging the annual event with few cancellations since the first show in 1882.

Narrandera Camellia Show organiser Denise di Salvia said the judges were in lockdown in Sydney in August and many of the exhibitors could not travel to Narrandera in August because of border closures and restrictions.

The Covid ban on dancing and the social distancing requirement also put paid to Rockin’ on East’s colourful spectacle of rock and rollers dancing in the main street decked out in fashions of a bygone era. The event was planned for the October long weekend.

Griffith Spring Fest Working Group and the Griffith Tourism Team also made the tough decision to cancel Griffith Spring Fest, Griffith’s flagship festival, for 2021 due to the rising concerns around COVID-19 in NSW.

Chair of the Griffith Spring Fest Working Group, C rRina Mercuri said, “We are obviously very disappointed that we can’t deliver Griffith Spring Fest and the events that fall within it for the second year in a row, we feel this is the right decision to protect our community.”

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 14 October 2021.