Brigadoon cancelled for second year due to Covid restrictions

A message from Bundanoon Highlands Gathering Inc vice president and publicity officer Alaistair Saunders said the tough decision to cancel the event in 2021 was made at a committee meeting on the evening of March 4.

He said in his message that the committee had been in communication with NSW Public Health (Mass Gatherings Team) over the past month "seeking guidance on how best to run Brigadoon given the challenging times that we all face."

"As we all know, Brigadoon is a very unique event in that we encourage social interaction throughout a day of celebration of all things Scottish," he said.

"NSW Health were very supportive of the event and offered a range of options for the committee to consider.

"However, due to the nature of the event, the demographic of those who attend, and with the restriction of 3000 attending (which included the committee and all performers) we would incur a significant financial loss which would be irresponsible to the future of the gathering.

READ MORE:

"We would also need to ensure public safety.

"The only sensible decision was to cancel the event for 2021 and to focus our energy and finances on returning in 2022 with the biggest and best Brigadoon of all."

Mr Saunders message continued "the committee feels a great responsibility to Brigadoon".

However he said to run the event in 2021 would cause the committee to incur "significant financial loss which would be irresponsible to the future of the gathering and to the community finances that we raise each year to support local services, and to the health and safety of the residents of Bundanoon and the greater Southern Highlands area."

"As a small group of volunteers, the committee puts in a lot of effort and time throughout the year to put on the games and we are frustrated once again that Brigadoon has to be postponed," he said.

"The committee understands that there will be many in the community who are disappointed at this decision however we also know that the residents of Bundanoon and the wider community of friends of Brigadoon will understand that the only appropriate and sensible decision to keep our community safe was to cancel for 2021."

Ms Saunders said a Grand Raffle, launched late last year, had been running over the past few months and it would continue.

"The draw for the raffle will still take place on April 17 at the oval in Bundanoon," he said.

"There will be further announcements in relation to this over the next few days.

"The Committee is planning to have a small get together at the Oval on the 17th so watch this space for details."

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here for the Highlands and here for the Tablelands. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.