Late last year it was announced that both the Harden Murrumburrah and the Bribbaree Show Societies had received Federal funding to help cover costs for shows in 2021.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the shows in these towns in 2020, organisers still faced ongoing costs which placed strain on their finances. However, the grant delivered under the Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Days Program will take a weight off the show committees’ shoulders.
Both the Bribbaree Show Society Inc and the Murrumburrah-Harden Show Society Inc will receive $10,000 each through the Program. The money can be used to claim reimbursements on costs which must be paid even when shows have had to be cancelled, including bank fees, utilities, rates, insurance, fire alarms and equipment, cleaning supplies, telecommunications, IT systems licensing costs, website costs, rent and state and national show body affiliation fees. The Program is being provided under the $1 billion Relief and Recovery Fund for regions, communities and industry sectors disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are about 580 agricultural shows across Australia and they contribute some $965 million to the economy each year. Nearly six million Australians visit an agricultural show each year.
