Goulburn Rose Festival organisers call off 2020 event

Cr Margaret O'Neill said she was saddened to hear that next year's event would not be going ahead due to challenges with the major display and committee numbers.

"We can't let it die because there's so much history behind it and it's done so much for the town," she said.

READ ALSO: Gunning Fireworks Festival cancelled in 2020

Rose Festival committee chair Kerry Ennis said the decision not to run a 2020 event had been a difficult one.

"We've lost four committee members in the last 12 months and we were going to push on but then in early September the Canberra Institute of Technology pulled out of doing the major display," she said.

The rose display, compiled by CIT students as part of their course, has been a major part of the festival for the past few years. The Institute informed organisers that the travel to Goulburn and the time devoted was an extra burden and it wanted to devote resources elsewhere.

READ ALSO: Goulburn Mulwaree Council purchases new community bus

Mrs Ennis said this was a major component of the event which the committee could not take over given the enormity of their existing workload.

"Some wanted to present something smaller but the display is a very spectacular part of the show and we didn't want to put on something that was second rate," she told The Post.

"...There have been 26 festivals so it's very sad but it's time to get more people on board to give a hand. We've tried to do this without too much success."

READ ALSO: Heron Resources sacks Woodlawn boss and operating manager

Mrs Ennis said people were simply too busy these days. Most of the six-member committee are aged in their eighties.

She is trying to find another party to do the major display.

The festival runs over two days at the Veolia Arena and coincides with Goulburn's Heritage Festival. It pulls in hundreds of people across the weekend. The Show was started by the late Len Pockley and his surviving wife, Jane, along with Cr O'Neill and the late Goulburn City Mayor, Keith Cole.

Cr O'Neill said Mrs Pockley even donated her own money for the naming of the Goulburn Rose.

It was held at the Goulburn Soldiers Club up until a few years ago when it shifted to Veolia Arena.

Mrs Ennis said the vast Veolia Arena loaned more possibilities for the numerous stallholders.

READ ALSO: Goulburn High School Year 12 students turn out for formal

The decision only applies to the 2020 festival and she remains hopeful that people or an organisation will come forward to assist with future events.

Mrs Ennis said committee members had "physically flogged themselves" and it was unfair to commit them to the 2020 show at this stage. However the group is not disbanding and will continue to look after Saint Clair rose garden and undertake fundraising activities.

They had informed the council of the decision about next year's Show but had heard nothing back.

Mayor Bob Kirk said he was saddened by the news.

"It's sad to see something so traditionally associated with Goulburn bite the dust but I suspect it's facing the same problems as a lot of other organisations. It's run by volunteers and it needs the community to react if they want it to continue," he said.

The Mayor said nothing formal had been put to councillors in terms of its future but it was more an operational decision. He pointed out that the council had a finite budget and whether it could assist was a matter of "future feedback."

We care about what you think. Have your say in the form below and if you love local news don't forget to subscribe.