THE first Riverland-based Christmas event has fallen victim to COVID-19, with organisers of the Morgan Pageant pulling the pin on the 2020 event.
The Morgan Christmas Pageant and Fair is run by the Morgan and District Lions Club, and has delighted families in the Riverland West area for many years.
However, pageant organisers said mounting pressure due to the pandemic was too much for the small group of volunteers, forcing them to can the event.
“The continued COVID issues are obviously a problem and with what’s happening in Victoria, we just can’t say it’s going to be safe to hold,” said Heather Pinnington, Morgan and District Lions Club treasurer.
“A lot goes into organising it and we don’t want to be doing it half-hearted.”
Mrs Pinnington also said approaching local businesses and sponsors for support felt inappropriate given the current uncertainty.
She said when the organising committee assessed the long list of regulations and requirements to hold the event it became clear it was too difficult to move forward.
“There are so many regulations that we are confined by,” Mrs Pinnington said.
“A whole way along the stretch of the pageant route we would need to ensure we are walking along making sure people are separated.
“We’ve got a very small committee… we do have a lot of helpers, but like any small community group at the moment we’re struggling for numbers.
“It absolutely would have been too much pressure.
“To be expected to govern how people stand and our Lions group is mostly over 70… it was just too much.
“As much as we didn’t want to cancel the event, we really had no choice.”
Mrs Pinnington said she was confident the community would understand and support the committee’s decision.
She said Morgan will still celebrate Christmas by holding its lights competition, and reminded Riverlanders the town is “still open for business”.
“Although the pageant has been cancelled Morgan is open,” Mrs Pinnington said.
“All of our businesses are maintaining safety measures and are keen to welcome visitors.”