Our Say, By Jeremy Sollars
IF you’d just arrived in Warwick for the first time from out of town, interstate or overseas – or outer space for that matter – there’s a good chance you wouldn’t twig that it’s Rodeo Week.
Granted our main street roses look terrific at the moment but the absence of rodeo-themed bunting and welcome signage and country music this year is very noticeable.
In a nutshell, it doesn’t scream “festival” or celebration of Warwick’s biggest event of the year.
I know the council articulated its reasons for ditching support for the Mardi Gras and Street Parade and it was tangled up with wrangling over tourism promotion and Destination Southern Downs.
And no other community group or individual came forward to rescue at least the street parade, which may be telling in itself.
I’ve heard a number of people comment on the distinct lack of atmosphere at the start of the week and this may be a wake-up call both for the council and the community as a whole.
Events cost money, everyone understands that. But I wonder if we haven’t missed the boat a bit at least as far as main street ambience is concerned this year, even in the absence of the street events. A bit of bunting and a few Troy Cassar Daley and Alan Jackson CD’s surely wouldn’t have broken the bank.
I’d also offer the view that no-one seems to have a proper handle on tourism marketing in the region at the present time, although the council is working on this.
At least the Warwick Potters Craft Market will still be on in Leslie Park on Saturday and our Warwick Rodeo Queens and their national and international counterparts will be out and about flying the rodeo flag, which is great.
And we can still offer visitors to town a hearty Warwick welcome, something which can always be guaranteed.
