Easter Festival cancelled

Bourke Shire Council’s Manager of Corporate Affairs, Leonie Brown says council had to cancel the big events due to health and safety concerns PHOTO TWH

The Back O’Bourke Easter Festival has been cancelled after Council and the organising committee deemed the risk too great to continue with the event, and the Federal government banned gatherings of more than 500 people in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

The cancellation is a massive blow to the community, council, exhibitors, organisers and visitors, but there was no option for the event to go ahead.

The Back O’Bourke Picnic Races have also been cancelled after Racing NSW pulled all meetings from the calendar until further notice.

The Bourke Show has also been put on hold for the second year in a row. Senior’s Week events have also been postponed and there will be no Anzac Day parade, although the Dawn Service and the 11am Anzac Day service will still go ahead at this stage.

Read more in the printed edition of the Western Herald.