Charlotte Varcoe
THE Blue Lake Fun Run has been cancelled for the second consecutive year due to public health concerns during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 across Australia have been the catalyst for event organiser Rotary Club of Mount Gambier Lakes to make the decision three months from the 11th anniversary event.
While the in-person event – which attracts hundreds of competitors and spectators to the city centre, Bay Road and Blue Lake surrrounds – is now off the table, the possibility of a virtual event will be explored.
“We are considering doing a virtual event instead of the physical event but that possibility is in the absolute most early stages,” club spokesperson Trevor Williams said.
Mr Williams said the decision to cancel this year’s event was to further protect the community’s health and well-being given concerns the event would not meet those standards.
Despite the cancellation, the committee continues to receive ongoing support from sponsors and the Limestone Coast community.
“It is a considerable effort to put this event on each year and it is not the sort of thing that comes without hours of background work,” he said.
“Our committee members have already put hundreds of hours of work behind the scenes because there are many things we need to get into place before the event.”
Mr Williams said hosting the event was a difficult task as it drew many to the Cave Gardens and course each year, making the possibility of socially distancing difficult.
“We had to take into consideration that having that many people into the Cave Gardens and Bay Road would make it very difficult if not impossible to adhere to the guidelines laid down by SA Health,” he said.
“Recent events associated with the new Delta strain, especially transfer in playgrounds, further strengthened our decision.”
He said the club would not suffer financial losses as a result of the cancellation yet it could affect the outgoing community funding the club raised each year.
“COVID-19 restrictions and the pandemic overall has put a deleterious effect upon major community events across the region but cancelling the fun run is better than the alternative which would be the event being the cause of a positive case within the crowd which is the last thing we would want to see,” Mr Williams said.
OneFortyOne external affairs office Charlene Riley, representing the event’s major sponsor, said the cancellation of the event was unfortunate yet the company understood the decision.
“We understand the Blue Lake Fun Run team’s decision and are hopeful that by next year we will be in a situation where the event can return,” Ms Riley said.
“The event is a great community activity and we look forward to supporting future events.”
