General News
4 May, 2024
Shock cancellation of museum vintage rally
Jeparit's landmark annual vintage rally - and the town's biggest annual fundraiser - has been cancelled.
The managing committee blamed "organisational challenges" for the shock news, but declined to comment beyond a Facebook post announcing their decison.
The 15th Mallee Pioneer Museum Vintage Rally was scheduled for June 8-9 and was, like other years, set to feature heritage buildings and displays, demonstrations and tours, along with other activities and entertainment.
The event helps raise thousands of dollars for local causes, with people travelling from far and wide to attend and exhibit items.
It comes as the event last year attracted an increased number of visitors to the displays of agricultural machinery and everyday life as a pioneer.
Gate entries last June were 655, up from 623 people in 2022.
Then president Wendy Werner said the rally was "amazing".
"It's great to see the museum come alive and so many visitors coming to share the day with us," she said.
Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum announced the cancellation on Facebook.
In a post simply headed "Cancelled" they wrote: Owing to organisational challenges the Management Committee of the Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum has, regrettably, resolved to cancel this year's Vintage Rally.
"We appreciate that this will be a disappointment to many exhibitors who have supported the Rally in the past and to the local community."
When contacted, Museum president Peter Pumpa declined to comment further, as did secretary Craige Proctor.
Mrs Werner also declined to comment.
Hindmarsh Mayor Brett Ireland said the cancellation was in part due to health and safety regulations.
"It is extremely disappointing for the museum and the hard-working volunteers," he said.
"They put nearly 300 hours a month into the museum, and it just came to light there was some issues revolving around health and safety, moving parts on vehicles and things like that.
"The museum week to week is a display that is static, and there is no problem, but in a rally, there might be wagons with smoking wheels or sparks coming from the blacksmith shop, etc."
Cr Ireland said committee members had helped highlight some of the issues, and they did attempt to work through them, but as the rally dates approached it became clear they could not all be resolved in timne.
He said council would meet with the committee in coming weeks.
"I am confident the rally will be up and going again," Cr Ireland said.
"Council and myself are sitting down with the museum to discuss a way forward."
He said one good thing to come from the issue had been the identified need for a role within council for someone to assist volunteer-led groups to make the regulations process less daunting.
Last year's rally was brought together by a committee of only six volunteers.
But the explanation came as little comfort to many in the community.
"Previous generations donated a lot of items and hours and hours of their time and money, to make their dream become a reality," Raelene Pfeiffer wrote.
"They repaired the old machinery so it could be functional for demonstration.
"A lot of volunteers manned the museum to keep it open and support the town.
"They didn't do it for a pat on the back, they did it for Jeparit."
Paul Bell said he was deeply disappointed.
"This is dreadful for the town, the exhibitors and community groups who look forward to having their products available for sale," he said.
"Not to mention all the persons who look forward to this major event in Jeparit, locals and visitors alike."
Barry Parsons blamed the decision on increased red tape.
"Jeparit has a small population of some 200-300, about 40 per cent of whom are over age 60," he said.
"Insurance and risk assessment form filling didn't happen to the extent it does today."
Last year's rally saw the Jeparit Lutheran Church raise $1000 for hall repairs. The Jeparit FARTS raised $1000 for the town's hospital and another $1000 for the oncology department in Horsham.
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