SO much has changed since the announcement 12 months ago that Sir Elton John was to play a farewell tour concert in Bathurst, and yet so much has remained the same.
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The Bathurst community responded with a mix of shock and sheer excitement when the Carrington Park gig was revealed and tickets were quickly snapped up once they went on sale.
Then came the long wait.
In the meantime we're had a state election (but no change of government), a federal election (but no change of government) and a university that looked at changing its name (with no change of name).
On the other hand, Bathurst has a new mayor, the Western Advocate has a new owner and we're all another year older - yet still we're waiting for Sir Elton.
But not for much longer.
On Wednesday night Bathurst's premier rugby league venue will be transformed for a night into a live rock venue, hosting one of the biggest names in popular music.
About 20,000 people will descend on Carrington Park, coming from all towns across the Central West and even further in some cases.
They will be there for a night none of them will forget, and one that will go down as one of the great nights in Bathurst's history.
And it's a night that will only add to Bathurst's reputation as the events capital of regional NSW.
The concert promoters made it clear when they announced Sir Elton's Bathurst gig that the city's track record for hosting major events was a key factor in their decision to bring the show here.
Bathurst is the smallest regional centre given the honour of hosting Sir Elton but will easily meet the challenge.
This is a small city that can cater for four-day attendances of more than 200,000 at the Bathurst 1000 each year, along with the Bathurst 12 Hour that continues to grow in popularity.
Bathurst will next month host a BMX World Cup event drawing riders from across the globe and next year will become the first Australian city since Sydney in 1996 to host an International Association of Athletics Federations world championships event.
Bathurst has a reputation of thinking big, aiming high and then rising to meet the challenge.
So welcome, Sir Elton, you have chosen well. You won't regret it, and nor will the thousands who watch you perform.
