Why does the Redlands have a "Show Holiday" when hardly anyone from the Redlands uses that day to attend the Ekka?
Why does the Redlands have a "Show Holiday" when hardly anyone from the Redlands uses that day to attend the Ekka?
If someone wants to attend the Brisbane Show, they can utilise either of two weekends to do so. Or take a day off on proper leave if they are that keen. I am certain that a polling would confirm that only a very small percentage of Redlands people attend the Brisbane Show on the Redlands holiday.
You will be acutely aware that the vast majority of locals take the opportunity to have a long weekend elsewhere. Many people use the whole week to go skiing in the southern Alps. Indeed, the ski resorts all acknowledge this as the peak week due to visiting Queenslanders taking the Show Week holidays.
Why do we have a holiday for the Brisbane Show when our own Redlands Show died through lack of patronage. Why not have the public holiday to support a local event such as the Springtime Festival, or a rejuvenated Strawberry Festival??
On the Monday holiday, I looked out my office window right now and saw Cleveland's streets deserted. Our office has to stay open because of business being conducted in Brisbane. So, we have "half staff" days on Monday and Wednesday, resulting in a virtual waste of two business days.
I am aware that there is an opportunity made of the "Crazy Day Sales" on the Wednesday, but that can still continue if Council resolves to not take the public holiday on the Monday.
In short, the constant declaration by the State Government, at Council's request, of a Brisbane Show Holiday for the Redlands is an absurdity and an anachronism.
Council should be persuaded to make a stance and declare a holiday for a local event, not an irrelevant external event that is not supported by locals.
Ian Neil, Redland Bay