The past nine months mark the longest period since World War II the Bell family hasn't spent on the road.
Key points:
- The Federal Government offers cash grants to cancelled agricultural shows
- Elwin Bell says these grants do not filter down to show families like his
- Mr Bell says his JobKeeper payments are mostly used to pay for insurance and ride maintenance
Elwin Bell's family business, Bells Amusements, has towed its thrill rides and caravans across the country for 96 years, setting up sideshow alleys.
Each year they attend 50 shows. This year the COVID-19 outbreak has cancelled every one of them.
"We travel every two weeks. We travel the length and breadth of Australia bringing entertainment," Mr Bell said.
"We're not used to looking at our rides packed up — it's just sad to look at."
The Bells have been holed up at their property in Queanbeyan with some long-time staff they had to formally let go, but who have become family over the years.
But Mr Bell decided it was time he took matters into his own hands.
For the next two weeks, he is throwing his own carnival at the Queanbeyan Showground — complete with a dagwood dog stall and his favourite ride, the Cha Cha — capped at 500 people in line with COVID-safe rules.
"I just wanted to bring a bit more fun back to the community, put some smiles on their dials and let them know the showies are still about," he said.
"We've fallen through every crack, so a lot of people have forgotten that we're still here."
Agricultural shows contribute $1 billion to the economy each year.
The Australian Government has committed $56 million over two years to support agricultural shows that have had to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The size of the cash grants each show receives depends on their attendance figures year, with events that had more than 5,000 people receiving up to $70,000.
Mr Bell said the grants did not filter down to show people like him.
"We're right at the bottom of the pyramid, we're forgotten about everywhere," he says.
"I support the agricultural shows getting grants as we depend on them, but none of those grants are open to the showmen who provide the entertainment — even though showmen spend $18 million just on rent revenue a year to be at those shows."
This is the first year since the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1919 that the Sydney Royal Easter Show has been cancelled because of a public health emergency.
Mr Bell, his wife and son were relieved when JobKeeper payments were introduced, saying it has helped them survive the year.
"We're not making any money unless we do a show, it's the only form of income we've got," he said.
"When the Sydney show cancelled that's when it got serious. That's when we parked up and watched all 588 agricultural shows follow suit and be cancelled throughout Australia."
The majority of the Bells' JobKeeper payment goes towards a $6,000 monthly insurance bill and maintenance on their rides.
Mr Bell says when he rang to cancel his insurance while shows were paused, he was warned he might not be able to get it back.
"I couldn't operate again without it so I'm just paying in hopes we can return to shows soon," he says.
Mr Bell's wife Selina knows they can survive off an oily rag but hopes they can continue to do what they love.
"We'll do whatever we got to do, [we] can go make beds in a motel and drive a truck if we have to, but right now we're hoping we can return to shows," she said.
With no certainty on when restrictions will ease or if specialised grants are on offer, the Bells remain in financial limbo.
"Financially we're doing it tough," she said.
"It's looking very grim, it's looking like the grim reaper.
"But I'm looking up at the blue sky, standing on this gravel and keeping my hopes high that we can just go back to work."
Like many in the event sector, they are waiting for the Government to announce whether restrictions will be eased for the new year.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA5LTI4L2NvdmlkLTE5LWhpdHMtY2Fybml2YWwtaW5kdXN0cnktaGFyZC1mYW1pbGllcy1mYWNlLWdyaW0tZnV0dXJlLzEyNzA4MzE20gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyNzA4MzE2?oc=5
2020-09-27 19:00:00Z
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