CLUNES Booktown has been confirmed as the first major casualty from the coronavirus outbreak with the cancellation of the May event confirmed today.
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Organisers have on Friday afternoon released a statement saying it is with "deep regret" the outbreak has caused the popular event, scheduled for May 2-3 had been called off.
"Like most events of this nature, we start advertising and marketing the event, designing and printing collateral, booking acts and accommodation, along with hiring equipment and venues many months in advance, and each day that passes those expenses mount up," the statement said.
"It would be irresponsible for us to allow that spend to continue without the firm knowledge that the event would take place.
"We are very disappointed to make this announcement but we have a duty of care to staff, volunteers, traders, authors, artists and of course the general public.
"All pre-purchased festival and author talk tickets and site payments from our many booksellers and food vendors will be refunded."
Organisers said work would continue to make sure a festival could be held once the outbreak has been brought into control
"We will be working in the background to bring you the Clunes Booktown Festival once everything has settled and it is safe to do so," it said.
Meanwhile, the Pyrenees Unearthed Wine + Food Festival has been called off for 2020 and rescheduled for April 17, 2021.
President of the Pyrenees Grapegrowers and Winemakers Association Robert Heywood said the committee said it was a responsible action to call off the event.
"The organising committee felt that the risk was too great of exposing patrons and stall holders to potential cross infection," Mr Heywood said.
"We want to acknowledge the current and upcoming work that our Australian medics will be facing due to this pandemic; and hope that by taking mitigating actions we will, in a small way, be reducing the strain on our medical system.
This decision has not been made lightly, and the committee is aware of the large number of stall holders, sponsors, and ticket holding patrons who will be disappointed. The event will be re-scheduled for Saturday April 17, 2021.
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