The Show must (not) go on

and there will be many disappointed people.
The Show I refer to of course is our state's annual Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society Show. It is the big one. It is the event of the year for farmers and rural people. Many of them depend on it in ways that city people know nothing about. It will be a huge financial loss to the RAHS and to many others.
It is not a decision which was taken lightly.
I heard about the decision just before it went public and I knew there would be people who would take the sensible view, that is that an event like this could not be held for many months yet. I also knew that there would be people who would claim it was ridiculous and of course the show could go on.
Let me put it this way, about 500,000 people usually attend the Show. There are between 50,000 and 80,000 people moving through the gates each day. The grounds are crowded. "Social distancing" isn't possible. It would have been highly irresponsible to say that the Show could go ahead.  
The RAHS looked into it thoroughly. They got advice - and they have acted on it.
Disappointed? Yes, of course. Some of us had actually already put a lot of work into the Show. I had been to meetings. I set up Replanting Australia and I spent hours and hours seeking support for that. I went to meetings. I have helped people with entries and much more. In the end none of that matters though. I would much rather people were safe and alive.
And all is not lost by any means. We are going to keep Replanting Australia alive because that can still be used. We still want people to knit and crochet squares they have designed themselves. Please look at the Facebook page by that name and join it. Make a square or two.  It is something anyone who can knit or crochet can do while life is so different.
If you were planning on entering items in the Show then this is your chance to do them. You have an extra twelve months now. We should have more entries than we can cope with next time because there will be a next time. If you have already finished something then put it to one side (in a place where you CAN find it) and move on to the next thing and the next.  Let's make the next time the best ever.
At some point later in the year when they say it is possible for small groups of people to get  together again then people can have "show and tell" about their items, they can get advice and help. Right now though people need support and one way of getting support is to do something for other people.  
So, please look at your stash and get started.