At their most recent meeting, committee member and Bathurst Regional Councillor Monica Morse suggested that a procession and colonial fair be held on May 7 to mark the occasion. 

Cr Morse said that following celebrations at the flagstaff, there could be a procession which led the crowds to a colonial fair at the section of Bicentennial Park near Rankin Street. 

“Lots of people could take part in it, there could be bands and a sulky to covey important people to the other end of the park,” she said. 

She said the procession could involve re-enactments, school and community groups wearing colonial dress, scouts and guides, military personnel, fire brigades and more. 

“At the colonial fair there could be a stage for performances by school children and musicians, demonstrations of blacksmithing and spinning, Aboriginal groups cooking kangaroo steaks.”

She said people would have the opportunity to dress up in colonial attire, and added there could be foods such as a spit roast and damper, folk dancing and market stalls. 

Cr Morse noted re-enactments and colonial displays had been a success at festivities held in September 2013 to mark the 150th anniversary of Ben Hall’s raid on Bathurst. 

“Lots of people want to get involved and be able to do something at the celebrations, not just look and watch on.” 

She said events would give the community an opportunity to take part in the celebrations and to meet with any dignitaries who attend.

She added that limiting the procession to a short distance and keeping it near Bicentennial Park meant the procession would be able to operate under the same traffic management plan that would be put in place for celebrations at the flagstaff. 

However, while Cr Morse wants many members of the community and school children to get involved, she does not think council should pursue a public holiday. 

Cr Morse said council had made the right decision to apply to the Industrial Relations Commission for a Local Event Day, which would give employers the chance to stay open without being penalised in any way.

Cr Morse said if there was a public holiday, the schools would close and many students may not be able to attend the celebrations. 

“If the schools are closed it will be less likely that teachers will organise a bus of students to go to events,” she said. 

“If there was a public holiday, the likes of Coles and Woolworths will stay open and lots of parents will still be working. Unless it’s Christmas or Anzac Day, most shops open. Many parents would still not be able to take children to it.”

Cr Morse said the minutes from the committee meeting had been accepted at Bathurst Regional Council’s recent meeting, and a scoping study would be carried out to determine the plausibility of holding a procession and colonial fair.

She added that council had also accepted Bathurst Arts Council’s expression of interest to administer the Peoplescape project, which will see 200 life-size cut-outs created of people significant to Bathurst. 

“This is a really exciting project that will have lots of community involvement,” she said.