Show out, cups in for school holiday

Jessica Benton
GEELONG school students have lost a day off for the city’s annual show but teachers have won the right to decide whether to take a holiday for either the Geelong or Melbourne cups.
New State Government regulations have forced many schools to shift traditional show holidays so teachers can have three pupil-free days at the start of the year.
The rules also require schools in the region to choose which cup day to take off, with many choosing the Melbourne event.
A spokesperson for Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said State Government had set the new rules to achieve “consistency across government schools, which is something parents had been calling for”.
Royal Geelong Show chief executive Sharolyn Taylor said she was “a little bit worried” about the impact of the new rules on the show’s attendances.
“We’re in two minds. Like other agricultural show organisers we’re worried but, because we’ve had such strong support from local schools, we don’t know what will happen until after this year’s show.”
Ms Taylor said the show had introduced a discounted ticket program for school groups on Thursday and Friday to offset the impact of the new regulations.
The rules also instructed Victorian municipalities to set one council-wide holiday a year, forcing a choice between shows and cup days including the Melbourne races.
City of Greater Geelong and Borough of Queenscliffe have retained Geelong Cup as the official day off but Surf Coast Shire has not declared a holiday.
Primary and secondary schools including Torquay Primary School, Belmont High School and Clonard, Matthew Flinders and Sacred Heart colleges will take off Melbourne Cup day.
Other schools, such as Ocean Grove and Leopold primary schools, will take Geelong Cup.
Australian Family Association Geelong branch spokesperson Max Crockett said a show day off would have more benefit for families.
“Personally I think kids should be able to go to the show and the horse races should take second place,” he said.
“For Geelong families it would be much more important to be able to go along to the show rather than horse races.”
Member for Western Victoria David Koch said the Government had “forgotten” regional and rural communities.
“Show day is there for the community and it’s important that school children do have the opportunity to attend,” he said.
“It just doesn’t make sense outside of Melbourne to allocate Melbourne Cup as a holiday.
“Regional and rural communities should be given discretion and should be able to exercise the best use of days off.”