‘Unfortunate truth’: Beloved Casino Truck Show cancelled for second year in a row

The pandemic has claimed this popular Casino event yet again, with organisers saying it was not “feasible” now that other states were in lockdown.

The Casino Truck Show, seen here in 2019.

The popular Casino Truck Show has once again felt the blow of Covid-19 as organisers make the heartbreaking decision to cancel the event for the second year in a row.

Organisers made the joint announcement on Tuesday afternoon, following the announcement of a number of lockdowns nationwide.

With just five weeks to go until its big return, Truck Show Organising Committee spokesman Darren Goodwin and Beef Week Festival Committee President Frank McKey deemed it not “feasible”.

Mr Goodwin said the lockdowns meant many interstate truck drivers and trucking companies would not be able to attend.

He also said the annual NCP Casino Truck Show had been a cornerstone of the Richmond Valley event calendar for a decade.

“Sadly, due to the current restrictions in place around Australia, we do not believe we can produce the show our community and our visitors deserve,” Mr Goodwin said.

“The risk of running a national truck show during the current pandemic was always going to be high, and the unfortunate truth is due to the latest outbreak we may not be able to include interstate trucks.”

Casino Truck Show in 2019

Mr McKey said as with any event, there was a lot of behind-the-scene work to produce a truck show of this size, and while there was the possibility the current restrictions would end before the show, it was simply not enough time to confirm a secondary outbreak would not occur.

He said as the Casino event attracted drivers from around the country, a single outbreak in a single state could result in the staging of half a show.

He said it was important to understand the behind the scene work that went into the event.

“There are site plans, traffic control plans and COVID safety plans to go through, and Council and Police approvals to be obtained,” Mr McKey said. “There are trophies and prizes to be ordered, and market stalls, amusement rides and entertainment to be booked,” he said.

Mr Goodwin said the organising committee would like to thank all the drivers who had already submitted entries and the sponsors who jumped on board early as he held onto hopes for the next year.

“Your enthusiasm helped motivate us to bring back the Truck Show in 2021, and we are disappointed we will be unable to host it this year,” he said.

“Hope is not lost for the future – we’ll be seeing you all again in 2022.”

The 2020 event was also cancelled, with organisers at the time calling it “unthinkable”.

A North Coast Petroleum Casino International Virtual Expo and Truck Show was announced in its place.

It’s not yet known if this will continue in lieu of the 2021 cancellation.