THE scheduling clash with the Croc Dundee Fest in McKinlay led to requests to Isa Fest organisers to change their date.
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Isa Fest committee president Tony McGrady apologised that the committee did not change the date for those that wanted to attend both events.
“We would prefer not to compete with our country cousins in McKinlay.
“The whole theme (of Isa Fest) is of people getting together and helping our country in time of drought.
“Our show is going to go on, I hope they (Croc Fest) do well.”
Mr McGrady said that the committee met at least three times before they first learned of the Croc Fest – the inaugural festival that celebrates 30 years since the making of the movie Crocodile Dundee.
Isa Fest began in 2014 during Mr McGrady’s term as mayor to help entertain and support people suffering in drought communities.
The festival was brought forward earlier this year to Saturday, April 23.
Mr McGrady said that the committee consulted with the Mount Isa RSL sub-branch to seek their permission in holding the event the weekend before Anzac Day.
The first the committee knew of the existence of Croc Fest was when a member mentioned it after receiving comments on Facebook approximately a month ago.
Some committee members did suggest changing the date. Mr McGrady said he was reluctant at the time to do so. Posters were already printed and Buchanan Park had been booked – although Mr McGrady acknowledged the scheduling of the venue could have changed easily enough.
“The last thing on our mind was to compete with our country cousins, (but) had we had changed it we would have had to get out of contracts so we took the decision to continue with this.”
Comments on the Isa Fest social media page were made from Emma Harman, Sue Wicks, Nik Row and Jai Real requesting the date change to support both events.
“Sadly we will miss out on one of these events now and it means people will only get to spend their money on one event, not both in our region,” Nik Row said.
Ms Wicks said; “I know of many people heading to there (McKinlay) for the weekend who would also have been keen to support the Isa Music Festival...it would be great to support both events.”
