THE return of Mildura’s Show and Shine event is the good-news story our region needed for Good Friday.
Like so many events in 2020, organisers were forced to cancel the Show and Shine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Show and Shine in the Mildura CBD attracts thousands of people – locals and tourists alike – with an estimated $1 million boost to our economy.
Any boost we can get for our businesses as they try and recover from the hardships caused by the pandemic is welcomed.
While the economic boost is important, another factor to consider is how the return of events like the Show and Shine help improve the social wellbeing of our community.
It is another sign we are in our recovery mode and finding some normality.
In the coming weeks, local football and netball leagues start up again after being called off last year. Country footy and netball is so important to regional areas and the Mildura electorate is no different.
It’s so pleasing to hear crowds of up to 5000 will be allowed at games – again another sign things are starting to return to a level of normalcy.
While the return of our social and sporting events is so positive, it should also be a time for us to reflect on the fact the pandemic continues to run rampant in other parts of the world.
Global deaths due to COVID-19 rose this week for the first time in six weeks.
It’s a worrying sign that the pandemic is far from over – which is easy for us to forget at a time when our state is COVID-free, our restrictions are being lifted and it feels like life is getting back to normal.
We need to remain vigilant and continue to practise all the hygiene measures and social distancing that have become such a big part of our lives.
But we deserve to allow ourselves the opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come – and what better way to start than at the Show and Shine on Good Friday.
See you there!
