Gympie Show and rodeo on in May after mandates lifted

After cancelling the Gympie Show because of the impossible burden of complying with Covid mandates, an emergency meeting of the Show Society on Tuesday night reversed that decision - now the huge band of volunteers has five weeks to pull it all together.

A flood of relieved and joyous comments have followed the announcement of the Gympie Show Society that the 2022 Show and rodeo would indeed go ahead following the State Government’s decision to lift vaccine mandates on Tuesday.

The Show had been cancelled, and Gympie MP Tony Perrett, who employs Show Society president Deb Brown in his Gympie electorate office, had sponsored a petition tabled in Parliament earlier in April objecting to the discrimination the mandates had against ag shows.

But an emergency meeting of the Show Society following Tuesday’s announcement ended with the declaration on Facebook that the Show would go on - and the rodeo as well.

“We’re back,” the post read.

“Gather the family and get ready as the Gympie Show is back on to all patrons (vaxxed and non vaxxed) this year May 12, 13 and 14. So pencil it in the calendar and come and enjoy what our community has to offer. We appreciate everyone‘s support... the countdown is on.”

The announcement was greeted with relief and delight, but pulling it all together in five weeks will not be an easy task.

Gympie Show Society president Deb Brown had doubled down on the importance of the Show late last week after the petition was lodged.

The 2022 Gympie Show was cancelled when it became clear vaccine mandates would make it “impossible” to comply and police – all competitors, patrons, exhibitors, visitors, volunteers and Show Society members would have to be double vaccinated.

Ms Brown said on Thursday, March 31, that even if the mandates were lifted tomorrow, there would not be enough time to pull a Gympie Show together in 2022.

The Society and its many volunteers are now looking at a very busy five weeks to pull together a 2022 event.

That loss of fundraising for many of the region’s smaller clubs, groups and schools would be felt across the community, she said.

“They are the lifeblood of our community. The economic and social benefits they have for our regional areas are just paramount.”

The petition, “Mandates discriminate against agricultural shows” drew more than 6000 signatures, demonstrating “how deeply agricultural show mandates are hurting”, Mr Perrett said.

“The government is deliberately silent about the impact mandates are having on shows,” he said.

Qld Health Minister Yvette D’Ath. PHOTO: Annette Dew

A Queensland Health spokesperson said the risks from Covid were “not over yet, as demonstrated by the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases being reported”.

“Easing restrictions has always been a phased approach and managed sensibly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all Queenslanders,” they said.

“Vaccination requirements for showgrounds do not specifically target one industry, rather the type of event being held in the community.”

Mr Perrett said 6000 signatures in 12 days demonstrated how deep the problem was.

“I’ve written to the Premier and heard nothing. The Premier is ignoring the genuine concerns of regional and rural communities,” he said.

Gympie Show Society president Deb Brown.

“The experience in Gympie is of inconsistency, logistically impossible record keeping, and rules applied only to shows. Rules are applied solely to the Gympie Show and a show fundraiser, but not for other events and activities at the same venue. Unvaccinated volunteers are not allowed on the Gympie showgrounds and not allowed to help, yet they can go to local hardware stores or the supermarket.

“More than 300 volunteers help run events and man stalls across three days at the Gympie Show. The Show is also expected to police and keep onerous records of who attends. It’s just not logistically possible, and the show can’t afford to fund additional manpower to do it.

“When the showgrounds were used as an evacuation centre during our second worst flood, the compulsory vaccination regulations went out the door. this also impacts the many schools and P & Cs, kindergartens, sporting groups, community organisations, and service clubs which raise thousands from manning gates, parking, traffic control, cleaning facilities, running bars and food stalls.

“For most of these organisations it is their major fundraiser for the year. A Show would help bring our community together following the recent floods.”

Mr Perrett sponsored the petition on behalf of the principal petitioner, president of the Near North Coast Sub Chamber of Queensland agricultural shows.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PETITION