Rutherglen country fair and celebrity grape tread event called off due to COVID

Organisers of the Sunday feature of the Winery Walkabout held on the Queen's Birthday weekend conceded satisfying social distancing protocols for the thousands of people who converge on High Street for the event was beyond its volunteer base.

Coronavirus put paid to the entire Winery Walkabout event last year even though an online one was arranged.

Rutherglen Rotary Club treasurer and country fair organising committee chairman Colin Foster said the requirement for the country fair to be fully ticketed was the knockout blow.

"We didn't have enough volunteers to man every entry into the street," he said.

"Last year we lost about $1500 refunding money and we could have been in the same situation again.

"We're just volunteers and don't have a lot of funds to throw away.

"But social distancing rules were the biggest thing we couldn't meet because everyone who has been to the country fair before knows the main street is just packed with people."

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The country fair started in the early 1980s and the first celebrity grape stomp was held in 1987 with former member for Murray Valley and Rutherglen resident Ken Jasper the commentator for the grape stomp after being a competitor in its formative years.

"It's extremely disappointing that it's not going to happen for a second year in a row," Mr Jasper said.

"It's a great event for Rutherglen because you've got people coming in on that Sunday from all around North-East Victoria and southern NSW.

"They spend the whole day there at the fair and then go off to a few wineries.

"But I understand the circumstances because the event is so confined to the main street of Rutherglen and the COVID concerns people might express.

"It's just not worth the risk.

"In 2010 when I left the parliament I won the grape tread, but then said I would compere it from then on."

The reigning grape stomp champion is Karen Gaffney, the wife of Indigo Shire former mayor, Bernard, who suffered an ankle injury in the lead-up.

Mrs Gaffney beat Victorian Attorney-General and Northern Victorian Upper House MP Jaclyn Symes and member for Indi Helen Haines, who was fresh off her federal election win.

Dr Haines' predecessor Cathy McGowan was a regular competitor in her six years as Indi MP.

Rutherglen Apex Club runs the grape stomp.

Meanwhile, the Winery Walkabout is returning this year after the COVID wipeout in 2020 with Sunday tickets already sold out.

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