Royal Melbourne Show 2021 cancelled as Covid hits more Victorian events

The beloved show won’t go ahead for the second year in a row because of Covid-19. Now there are fears for more iconic events.

This year’s Royal Melbourne Show won’t go ahead. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The 2021 Royal Melbourne Show has been axed due to coronavirus uncertainty.

The latest in a string of major events to be cancelled in recent weeks, it is the second time the agricultural tradition has had to be called off due to the worldwide pandemic, following on from last year’s cancellation.

The show was scheduled to be held over 11 days from Thursday 23 September to Sunday 3 October at Melbourne Showgrounds.

Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria president Matt Coleman said it was a tough decision, but necessary given the circumstances.

“Whilst the RASV Board is disappointed to make the decision to cancel the 2021 Royal Melbourne Show, we felt it important for all those planning to be involved in the event that they have certainty so they can make informed decisions in relation to their own arrangements,” Mr Coleman said.

A significant money-spinner for Melbourne, the show attracts 450,000 visitors over 11 days and contributes more than $244 million to the Victorian state economy.

RASV chief executive Brad Jenkins said the coronavirus pandemic continued to cause significant disruption in planning and delivering major events.

“It’s deeply disappointing that the Victorian community will not be able to come together with family and friends to enjoy the fun, discovery and excitement of the Royal Melbourne Show for the second consecutive year,” he said.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have a passionate and supportive community who look forward to attending or being involved in the Royal Melbourne Show.

“This includes our loyal volunteers, staff, members, sponsors and exhibitors along with thousands of competitors striving to win a coveted Melbourne Royal blue ribbon.

“We understand the cancellation of the 2021 Royal Melbourne Show will come as very disappointing news.”

The Royal Melbourne Show has been the signature event for RASV since the organisation was founded in 1848.

It has only been called off on two occasions prior to 2020. First, when Melbourne Showgrounds was requisitioned for the war effort in 1915 and again during WWII between 1940-1945.

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Australian Amusement Association vice president and Action Events managing director Damian De Jong said he was “absolutely devastated” at the show’s cancellation.

He warned regional shows were also now at risk, as struggling event workers face the prospect of another six months out of work.

“It’s going to start a domino effect with more events cancelled. It’s absolutely devastating,” Mr De Jong said.

Save Victorian Events spokesman Simon Thewlis said more iconic Melbourne events were also now at risk of being cancelled.

“To be a month out of that peak event season, which occurs from September onwards, and to have absolute uncertainty and no road map for the future, it’s absolutely concerning,” Mr Thewlis said.

“The loss of any large event is devastating for the industry. The Melbourne Show is held at the beginning of what is really the busiest time of the year for the event industry.”

But Mr Thewlis said the cancellation didn’t come as a surprise.

“You’re only allowed an event of up to 300 people outdoors and there’s currently no road map to say when that may increase,” he said.

“So if people don’t have confidence in these events going ahead, they’re not going to invest in them.”

Mr Thewlis said while support announced on Wednesday would assist some businesses in the event industry, the scale of support needed was “much greater”.

“In November, the Tasmanian government gave event industry businesses grants of up to $100,000 to help them to survive until events started happening again and so they could gear back up again,” he said.

“In Victoria our event industry is in a far more dire situation with many businesses having done little work for over a year, so we need similar grants of up to $100,000 for many to be able to survive and so that Victoria doesn’t lose even more of its event capability. These are businesses with millions of dollars of equipment.

“Over the last year we have seen music venues get grants of up to $130,000 and hospitality venues get multiple grants like today’s of $20,000 in Victoria. (They are) all deserved and needed, but Event Industry businesses need grants of this magnitude to be able to survive until events can finally be happening properly again.”

Mr De Jong said he had a proposal to provide amusement rides at this year’s event.

But he lost all hope that it would go ahead once the state was plunged into a fifth lockdown.

“I didn’t think there was any way that Dan Andrews would allow 30,000 people to gather outdoors by September,” Mr De Jong said.

“He’s a person that wants to keep our state shut. It’s all about construction, major roads, but nothing for the events industry.

“It’s a disgrace. The state government is destroying the entire industry.”

Mr De Jong’s Action Events business, based in Bayswater, has only been able to operate for five of the past 16 months.

“This was a successful business. I was ready to pass it on to my kids but now I’ve got nothing to give them now. We survived the global financial crisis’ but now we’re really struggling,” he said.

“Financially, we are all bleeding at this point.”

Mr De Jong said 75 per cent of his revenue was made between August and December.

But he’s already conceded that he’s lost a second consecutive peak season, after warnings the state would be under rules until the majority of the state is vaccinated.

“The Melbourne Show is just one part of the amusement industry, but the whole industry is under threat right now.

“We’re the first to shut down and the last to open. When there’s a two-week lockdown, it’s equivalent to us losing two months of work.”

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Originally published as Royal Melbourne Show 2021 cancelled as Covid hits more Victorian events