Parkes show dilemma over equine debacle

SECOND time lucky. Well maybe. Parkes Pastoral, Agricultural and Horticultural Association secretary, Kaye Bird, is frustrated a grant application to regain expenses after the equine influenza outbreak was knocked back.

For committee members of Parkes Show, it’s a do or go bust effort to regain some of the expense incurred for doing the right thing and stopping their 2007 show because of the Equine Influenza outbreak.

Parkes was the only three-day show in the state which voluntarily closed its gates to horse entry or departure more than 24 hours before NSW Primary Industries officials declared the showground a quarantine area and cancelled the event last August.

Horses that had arrived early, including a truck load from Sydney’s Centennial Park, were included in the lockdown which lasted for some 50 days.