SYDNEY’S COVID-19 OUTBREAK CLAIMS FIRST REGIONAL NSW FESTIVAL
The 2021 Byron Writers Festival has been cancelled in light of Sydney’s unpredictable COVID-19 outbreak.
Devastated organisers made the announcement this morning after an emergency meeting of the Byron Writers Festival board.
“It is with a heavy heart we have made the decision to cancel Byron Writers Festival 2021, which was scheduled to run from 6-8 August. We have come to this extremely difficult decision in light of the developing Covid-19 situation in NSW as well as border and travel restrictions,” an official statement from Edwina Johnson Festival Director and the team at Byron Writers Festival read.
Escalating case numbers, the virulence of the Delta strain and Byron Bay’s popularity as a destination for metro visitors were all factors considered in the decision.
“We have been following Covid developments in Greater Sydney and nationally very closely over the last few days. As positive cases continue to emerge and borders are closed to NSW, it has become clear that the current restrictions will push too close to the festival to make it feasible to proceed in early August. Especially given a large portion of participating writers are located in either Greater Sydney or interstate and are subject to travel restrictions. In addition, of course, is growing community hesitancy to travel in such volatile circumstances,” the statement added.
“Our primary and abiding concern is, as ever, the health of everyone involved in the Festival – presenters, attendees, volunteers, staff and of course the safety of the wider Northern Rivers community .. we believe cancellation is the only responsible course of action.”
In what was meant to be its 25th anniversary year of the festival, more than 150 authors, commentators, entertainers and powerful new voices were scheduled to appear at the 2021 Byron Writers Festival across 115 panels during the three day event.
According to the 2021 program, at the core of the festival is,
‘ .. the belief in the power of story as a means to connect, heal and make change,’ it read.
The 2021 Byron Writers may reschedule programming for later in the year, a decision is still pending.
Anyone with a ticket to Byron Writers Festival 2021 will automatically receive a refund within the next 14 days. Tickets to satellite events or festival workshops are asked for patience as refund arrangements are worked through with event partners and venues.
“We offer our sincere thanks for your support and please, stay safe.” Edwina Johnson Festival Director said.
It is the second time in two years Byron Writers Festival has been forced to cancel due to risks from Covid-19.
Photo: writers cancelled program
Caption: Program Artwork for the now-cancelled 2021 Byron Writers Festival
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The cancellation of Writers Festival comes as Regional NSW recorded its first case of COVID-19 in Goulburn in the Southern Tablelands, after a construction worker travelled from Sydney to work in a regional hospital.
The male worker was deemed an ‘essential’ worker permitting him to travel to the region.
NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said Sydney workers can’t be complacent when working in regional areas and reminded all workers of the requirement to return to their accommodation straight after work,
“You can’t go to pubs, clubs, hospitality, anything else, you can only go there and do your essential work and get your essential food and groceries, the restrictions in greater Sydney apply to you.” Dr Chant said.
