- Calling for volunteers to create a special community event one year on -
Following an unprecedented year of hardship, the community of Batemans Bay is rallying together to raise the spirits of their community and create new hope for the future, with a colourful lighting showcase on New Year’s Eve.
The event will mark exactly one year on since the onset of the Black Summer bushfires in Batemans Bay and will include a VIVID-style light display and live music on the foreshore.
Hosted by the Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber and the Love the Bay BB campaign, the event is also an initiative to revive the CBD area by encouraging pedestrian traffic outside of business hours.
Businesses from across Batemans Bay and Mogo have pledged support for the event, and a number of shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs will be extending trading for the evening on Thursday 31 December 2020 – to allow locals and visitors the chance to book tables and enjoy this meaningful evening together with the community, in line with COVID-Safe guidelines.
Batemans Bay’s Chamber President Mathew Hatcher looks forward to bringing the community together, one year on, saying “We very much wanted to put on a traditional style event for our community but given the circumstances with COVID, we had to think outside the box. From 6pm on New Year’s Eve, there will be music the whole family can enjoy, surrounded by a beautifully lit foreshore and adjoining streetscapes. We are just so excited that so many of our Chamber members and local venues are coming together to create an evening for the whole community.”
“We know that the locals and local businesses have so much to offer, and we’ve been overwhelmed with offers of corporate support and commitment from local businesses to take part. This is what our community is all about. Light up the Bay could not have been realised without many local sponsors including Gold sponsor Hertz Australia, so a massive thank you to all of them. At this stage we would just like to call out for more community members to come forward to help on the night as volunteers. Due to the current COVID-regulations, more assistance is needed than with ‘regular’ events.”
Busking on the foreshore and Mara Mia Walkway will commence at 6pm, and the public is encouraged to enjoy dinner or a takeaway meal at a local eatery before or after visiting the foreshore to see the lights.
EVENT INFORMATION
Date/time: Thursday 31 December, 6pm-midnight (busking and lights)
Formal launch commencing: 8:15pm including Welcome to Country by Ms Loretta Parsley, speeches by Ms Fiona Phillips (Federal Member for Gilmore), Mr Andrew Constance (NSW Member for Bega), Mr Shane Fitzsimmons (Commissioner of Resilience NSW) and Captain Ian Aitken (RFS Batemans Bay)
Location: Batemans Bay Foreshore (Clyde Street) and Mara Mia Walkway
