Millthorpe Markets: December 2020 event cancelled due to coronavirus

The Millthorpe Markets Committee said the safety of the village community, parent and student volunteers, stallholders and visitors is the most important consideration.

"Our December event can attract around 12000 visitors to our village, so the task of ensuring an effective Covid safety plan to keep everyone involved safe is almost impossible," Millthorpe Markets coordinator Brooke O'Byrne said.

"The Committee has made the decision in liaison with Millthorpe Public School and the Department of Education, the school's P&C and Blayney Council.

"The announcement is being made now to provide all of our stakeholders with early notice, in particular our valued stallholders who would normally start applying to attend in September," she said.

Millthorpe Markets is one of the biggest events in the Central West, attracting stallholders and visitors from around Australia over markets in April and December.

It is run by a committee of parent volunteers, and raises money for the students of Millthorpe Public School.

"Obviously cancelling is difficult for our stallholders and their incomes, as well as our fundraising for the school," Ms O'Byrne said.

"However, we have an obligation to our community to put safety first, and the size and volunteer delivery of this market makes adhering to Covid safety guidelines incredibly difficult.

"Our decision is in line with statewide advice around social distancing, and decisions taken by other event organisers in the region."