COUNCILLOR Bobby Bourke’s push for a street parade to mark Bathurst’s bicentenary next year appears doomed.
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When Cr Bourke raised the issue at Bathurst Regional Council’s last meeting, mayor Gary Rush told him no street parade had been planned – but said there would be elements of a parade.
Cr Rush said on Proclamation Day people will be dressed in costume and will move from the flag staff to the western part of Bicentennial Park.
He added that during Illumination Bathurst there will be music, costumes and children carrying lanterns in a procession up William Street.
“It sounds like a small parade, rather than no parade,” Cr Bourke said hopefully.
The matter of Australian actress Paula Duncan being one of the people involved with Bathurst 200 was also raised.
Cr Rush said Ms Duncan was quite taken with Bathurst and has offered her services for six to nine months at no cost to council.
“It’s a wonderful gesture and one we will willingly take,” Cr Rush said. “She has come up with an idea where she will think of 200 reasons why people should come to Bathurst.”
Cr Rush said the Wandering Warriors, who were in town for the Bathurst 1000, were also informally promoting the bicentenary.
He added that during the great race, V8 Supercars presented Bathurst with the very generous gift of six videos showcasing the region which council has loaded onto the Bathurst 200 website.
Council has the rights to these videos and is encouraging any organisation that wishes to load them onto their websites to do so.
A report presented to council on the night outlined the progress to date.
The tender process for the Illumination Project has been completed. A report recommending a tenderer was submitted to council on October 1.
The final design and ordering of 600 bicentennial baby suits has also been completed, and council is continuing to work with local artists on Aboriginal art concepts for the flagstaff and coins/tokens.
The Living Legends project is moving ahead and an Instagram account created for online users.