Rainbow Fishing Classic, Rattler events cancelled due to Covid lockdown

Several major Gympie region events have been forced to pull the pin, including the Rainbow Beach Fishing Classic, as Queensland’s Covid situation continues to grow.

Several major Gympie region events have been forced to pull the pin, including the Rainbow Beach Fishing Classic, as Queensland's Covid cases continue to grow.Â

Several major Gympie region events have been forced to pull the pin as the Covid cases in South East Queensland continue to grow.

The Rainbow Beach Fishing Classic and Mary Valley Rattler special services are the latest events to be cancelled as Queensland recorded another 27 cases on Thursday, August 5.

The Rainbow Beach Sports Club Management and Fishing Classic committee said they had been closely monitoring the Covid situation in the nearby Local Government Areas in lockdown.

“It is with much disappointment that we have had to make the tough decision to reschedule the Rainbow Beach Family Fishing Classic until next year,” they announced on August 4, on Facebook.

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“The decision has not been made lightly but we have a duty of care to our staff and the local community.

“The new dates for the 2022 Fishing Classic will be Registration Day on Sunday, August 21, and grand final on Saturday, August 27, 2022.”

Bryce Francis with a Jewfish a that Rainbow Beach Fishing Classic 2014. Photo Contributed

The Fishing Classic Committee assured all those who had bought an entry ticket it would be refunded.

The SEQ lockdown has also forced the Mary Valley Rattler to postpone its two major events planned over the next fortnight.

Both the 140th anniversary celebrations originally scheduled for this Saturday, August 7, and the inaugural Murder on the Rattler Express service on Friday, August 13, have been called off.

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The 140th anniversary special service and ‘Meet the Fleet’ Open Day will be moved to Saturday, September 4.

The Murder on the Rattler Express will be rescheduled for another date, which is yet to be advised.

Regular services have also been temporarily suspended due to the lockdown impacting access to staff and volunteers necessary for operating the service safely.

General manager of the Mary Valley Rattler Michael Green said it was disappointing that two special events that had attracted such large support had to be cancelled.

“As soon as we receive more definitive information about when the lockdown will end, we will recommence our regular events and announce a new date for the Murder on the Rattler Express event,” Mr Green said.

Mary Valley Rattler, Gympie.

Celebrations for Tiaro State School’s 150th Anniversary on Saturday, August 7, have also been put on hold.

These updates come after a number of events were cancelled across the region earlier in the week, including the Mary Valley Show and Rodeo and the Rainbow Beach Trail Festival.

Originally published as Rainbow Fishing Classic, Rattler events cancelled due to Covid lockdown