Farmers, rural groups say Royal Adelaide Show cancellation is disappointing but understandable
It will be a tough financial blow to many farmers and rural organisations but they agree the cancellation of the Royal Adelaide Show is the right decision to help stop the spread.
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Farmers and rural organisations say it is disappointing but understandable the 2020 Royal Adelaide Show has been cancelled.
It is only the fifth time the event has been cancelled in the show’s 181-year history.
The only other times the event has been cancelled was both World Wars, the Victorian Gold Rush of the 1850s and the 1919 Spanish flu pandemic.
Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA chief executive John Rothwell said health and safety was the reason behind the decision, especially with the show drawing about half a million people across 10 days.
“We can have anywhere from 50,000 people to 80,000 people attend the show in one day and that doesn’t seem in order with the circumstances we currently have,” he said.
Mr Rothwell said letting exhibitors know early was another factor behind the decision.
“The lead time for exhibitors can be many months and we would have been only 140 days out from the first day of the show,” he said.
“We usually have many exhibitors from interstate and competitors and judges from overseas, who have a long lead time in their planning.”
Mr Rothwell said the society’s focus would now turn to the 245th Royal Adelaide Show in 2021.
“No other organisation in the world has presented as many Royal Shows as we have in Adelaide,” he said.
“The society’s annual business and operations at the showgrounds contribute $317 million a year to South Australia’s economy.
“Next year’s event will be pretty special and it will be an opportunity for South Australians to come out and celebrate.”
Mr Rothwell did not rule out holding some Royal Adelaide Show section judging this year but it would be without the public in attendance.
Merino SA president Nick Wadlow, from the Old Ashrose stud at Hallett, said the organisation supported the decision to cancel the Adelaide show, especially given the recent Sydney and Brisbane show cancellations.
“The cancellation was expected, especially considering the other events that have been cancelled, but it’s certainly disappointing,” he said.
“From a livestock and stud breeding perspective, the Adelaide Show is an integral part of our operations. It’s a great opportunity to display our sheep and it’s also a great benchmarking and marketing tool.”
Mr Wadlow said Merino SA was still hopeful the Adelaide Stud Merino and Poll Merino Ram Sale, which was usually held on the last Friday of the show, could go ahead in some form this year.
Last year, the ram sale grossed almost $800,000 for stud breeders, with one ram alone netting $100,000.
Elders stud stock manager Tony Wetherall said with the ram sale livestreamed for the past two years, there was no reason for it not to go ahead this year, even with the show cancelled.
“It’s a premiere sale and if people from interstate can’t be there, they can easily have classers or agents give them an appraisal of the rams on offer,” he said.
South Australian Country Women’s Association president Roslyn Schumann said the Royal Adelaide Show was the organisation’s biggest fundraiser for the year.
“The income will be sorely missed this year but our members are resourceful and resilient and will be thinking of ways to overcome this,” she said.
The CWA usually sells about 12,000 scones each year at its popular cafe at the show.
“We usually raise between $40,000 to $60,000 a year at the show and for us that’s a substantial amount,” Mrs Schumann said.
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“We also get a lot of people coming back every year and it’s nice to see our regulars.
“Our members will also miss going to the show because of the social aspect. It’s a good opportunity to catch up with people.”
Shorthorns were set to be the feature cattle breed at this year’s show but national Shorthorn Beef president Matthew Ashby, from the Bundaleer stud at Gulnare, said travel restrictions would have made it hard to attract good exhibitor numbers.
“There would be a lot of out-of-state breeders who’d look to support the show but by then (September) they may struggle to get here,” he said.
“A lot of work, a lot of feed and a lot of preparation goes into show animals so I think it’s good the society made the call early.”