Media release – Tasmanian Agricultural Shows, 23 February 2022
Support your local shows
Tasmanian Agricultural Shows are urging the public to support the upcoming Bushy Park, Hamilton, and Bream Creek shows.
Crowd restrictions, the complexity of preparing Covid safe plans for government, and a risk averse public, have all contributed to the cancellation and postponement of other shows.
The Exeter and Chudleigh shows have already been cancelled this year. The Wynyard and King Island shows are postponed until an indeterminate date in the future, and Agfest has been moved to August.
Welcome news is that the Royal Launceston Show, cancelled in 2020 and 2021, will proceed later this year as a three day event. When last held in 2019, it was a one-day event.
“These are all family friendly, traditional Tasmanian shows, and it’s great to see them pressing ahead during this era of Covid restrictions,” says Scott Gadd, President of Tasmanian Agricultural Shows.
“If Tasmanians want to see their shows survive into the future, you couldn’t have a better day out than attending an agricultural show. The shows that managed to proceed last year displayed a high level of Covid compliance and there was not a single recorded Covid case as a result of attending an agricultural show.”
Bushy Park Show: February 27
Hamilton Show March 5
Bream Creek Show: March 20
More than 20 agricultural shows occur around Tasmania each year. But last year, only seven managed to proceed. Shows are part of Tasmania’s social and economic fabric, and their contribution to regional economies and social well-being helps differentiate the Tasmanian life style to other, more urban-orientated states. But Covid-19 and the response to Covid-19 has endangered their futures.
