Gin Gin show holiday in debate

Holly Knight, Jaimee Morse, Hayley Fox and Matthew Milford enjoy the fun and games at a previous Gin Gin Show. Debate has begun about whether to change the show holiday that coincides with the Gin Gin Show.

Max Fleet

THE future of Gin Gin’s Show holiday is going through a rollercoaster of change with a proposal to have it changed next year.

Bundaberg Regional Council has suggested moving the holiday, which now falls on the same day as the Brisbane Exhibition in August, to occur on Bundaberg’s Show Holiday in May.

However, Gin Gin Show Society president Paul Stehbens says this would be detrimental to the future of the event.

Mr Stehbens said people could only spend a certain amount of money on shows and locals would be encouraged to travel to Bundaberg and have nothing left for the Gin Gin Show.

“We don’t believe people would support both shows,” he said.

Mr Stehbens said he also feared people would take a day off on the Friday between the holiday and the weekend, allowing them to go out of town instead of supporting the Gin Gin event.

However, mayor Lorraine Pyefinch disagrees.

“I think the Gin Gin Show Society is underestimating the appeal of their show,” she said.

“It is undoubtedly one of the best country shows in the region and would continue to be well-patronised by locals regardless of when the public holiday was held. I would be very surprised if the Gin Gin people didn’t maintain that loyalty to such a great show.”

Cr Pyefinch said she was looking forward to seeing the results of a survey on the issue which would be sent out with rates notices in the region.

“We have to make decisions that benefit the whole community,” she said.

“If someone living in Gin Gin drives to Bundaberg to work, they will take the Bundaberg Show holiday, but will work on the Gin Gin Show holiday. This can cause problems for families if their children go to school in Gin Gin, and the situation is reversed for people who live in Bundaberg but work in Gin Gin.”