How Covid has changed 2021 Gympie Eisteddfod

Overcoming the hurdles of a lockdown never too much for Gympie’s stoic eisteddfod veterans, who have wangled the event’s dramatic return at The Pavilion this week.

A last minute loss of adjudicator due to Covid lockdown has not been enough to derail the 2021 Gympie Eisteddfod, which is staging a dramatic return at the Gympie Pavilion this week.

Veteran eisteddfod president Thelma Reisenleiter said organisers were “blessed” to be able to hold this year’s competition as other events across the southeast corner and Gympie, including the Brisbane Ekka and the Muster, bit the dust thanks to the pandemic.

Gympie’s event has been far from immune though.

Mrs Reisenleiter said some of this year’s competitors were ruled out because of the lockdown “and won’t be joining us”.

“I feel for them,” Mrs Reisenleiter said.

“That is sadness.

“But at a local level the show is still going on.”

Jones Hill State School’s band claimed the top orchestra prize Monday morning.

She declined to comment on the number of competitors who would be stepping on the stage this week as “it was a different year for many, many reasons”.

There was still a full program, although the snap South East QLD shutdown had forced the eisteddfod to be agile with its running order.

“We had to finish dance at lunchtime Saturday (just before the lockdown),” she said.

Florence Penny and Marcella Kendall were among the competitors happy to be back at the Gympie District Eisteddfod in 2021.

“It should have been going all day Saturday, Sunday.

“We can’t change, you’ve just got to actually … keep going and do the best.”

Eisteddfod president Thelma Reisenleiter was grateful for the support given by the Pavilion, which has become the home to this year’s event with the Civic Centre serving as a vaccination hub.

Then there was the adjudicator loss, which was solved thanks to the event’s “extended family north of Gympie”.

“We were able to secure another adjudicator for the rest of the week at 10 past 10 (Sunday) morning.”

“We’re blessed.”

Courtney and Piper Wilson take a break from competing in the Gympie District Eisteddfod.

Covid had even forced them to find a new home for 2021.

The event’s usual venue, the Gympie Civic Centre, has been transformed into a temporary mass vaccination hub by the State Government.

As a replacement the eisteddfod moved into the Gympie Showground’s Pavilion and Mrs Reisenleiter was happy to give the venue and the staff running it glowing reviews.

Bethany Graham, Naomi Pascoe, Madison Krafft and Luca Sibbard preferred the up-tempo songs.

“The people at the Pavilion have been … absolutely amazing,” she said.

“We’re very much at home over here.

“Isn’t it wonderful the council have got two buildings?

Gympie South State School enjoy some sun after a tough morning competition.

“We haven’t had problems with being here.

“It’s lovely … like going from one comfort zone to another.”

There was still an eye on recovering this year’s two lost dance sessions too.

“Maybe what we might do is stage that little bit from dance later,” Mrs Reisenleiter said.

“It’s probable. You can do it, it’s not out of the basket.”