The term "unprecedented times" is this year's buzz phrase. But it is appropriate to use it when talking about this week's decision to cut short and dramatically alter one of the south-west's biggest events - the May racing carnival.
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Warrnambool Racing Club, in conjunction with Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria, decided next month's carnival would be reduced from three days to two and the first day reserved exclusively for jumps races. This is the first time in more than a century that the carnival won't be scheduled to run over three days. Unprecedented times.
But the decision to race only on the Tuesday and Wednesday and skip the traditional first Thursday in May date creates a headache for city officials.
Warrnambool City Council ruled earlier this century that a public holiday be observed on the Thursday in lieu of Melbourne Cup day in November.
So what's the point of a public holiday when the industry it was created for decides it doesn't want to hold an event that day?
Unprecedented.
The May carnival is Warrnambool's biggest social and economic-driving event on the calendar but like most other industries, the oft-viewed rich racing industry is fighting for survival too. A public holiday, when the sport would need to pay employees penalty rates, just cannot be afforded especially when the event, if it goes ahead, will be closed to spectators. If racing can't afford a public holiday, neither can other businesses fighting for survival.
It makes sense then that the city council should scrap the public holiday on May 7 and either transfer it to Melbourne Cup day in November or create a new date when we are free to live our lives again post COVID-19. We will be looking for a celebration later in the year.
The Melbourne Cup day option has been used by other regional centres to great success as a four-day weekend escape. Our tourism industry is suffering, such a promotion could be the light at the end of the tunnel. It makes sense that the public holiday is changed. These are, after all, unprecedented times.
