For many, 2018 has been a very tough year, as large areas of rural Australia continue to battle one of the worst droughts on record. With the year coming to an end, and Christmas just around the corner, families and individuals across the region are urged to find a few hours to take a break from the daily grind, kick their heels up and enjoy a well-deserved break by attending this year’s Bingara Christmas Carnival Concert for the Farmers.
Featuring performances by Aussie rock legends Shane Howard from the band Goanna, and John Schumann from Red Gum, as well as local performers, the night will provide the perfect opportunity to let off some steam.
The concert will be held on the Gwydir Oval and will be replacing the traditional annual Christmas Carnival, which is normally held in the main street for this year only.
The event is a one off and has been made possible by Vison 2020 with the support of Gwydir Shire Council. “We wanted to provide local farmers with an opportunity to take a break from the pressures of the farm. We also acknowledge that the effects of the drought are being felt across the community and encourage everyone in the area to attend,” said Mr John Bishton, President of Bingara Vision 2020. “We really wanted to make the night extra special and understand that people’s spare time is limited, so combining with the Christmas Carnival made perfect sense,” said Mr Bishton.
“The event will feature all the elements of the Christmas Carnival such as food stalls, kid’s entertainment, a visit from Santa and performances by the local school children, but with the addition of a concert with nationally acclaimed performers,” said Georgia Standerwick, Marketing and Promotions Team Leader for Gwydir Shire Council.
“We understand that there are some members of the community who will be disappointed to see the carnival leave the main street, particularly retailers, however this is not a permanent relocation and the carnival will be held in the main street once again next year.
The Gwydir Oval was the only suitable location for this type of event where we wanted to encourage attendees to bring a picnic blanket, relax on the green grass and enjoy a magnificent concert under the stars,” said Ms Standerwick.
The Bingara Christmas Carnival Concert for the Farmers will be held at the Gwydir Oval on Thursday 6th December from 6.00pm.
Organisers are still seeking expressions of interest from stall holders, if you would like to book a stall or would like further information on the event, please call the Bingara Visitor Information Centre on (02) 6724 0066.
