Despite government help on the horizon for country shows, the Orange Show Society isn't guaranteeing there'll be an event in 2021 if restrictions prove too onerous by May next year.
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Show Society president Peter Naylor said financially it might not be viable to have a show in 2021 depending on what restrictions they're forced to put in place as part of coronavirus safety measures.
"The concern is what we're required to do because of COVID," Mr Naylor said.
"If they decide you have to clean the toilets more and more often then all our money might have to go towards that."
He said forking out extra for cleaning or other hygiene measures could make the show financially unviable, while other measures including contact tracing, capped entry numbers and other restrictions could also prove logistical nightmares.
I don't want to be all doom and gloom but it's something we're going to have to figure out.
- Orange Show Society president Peter Naylor
"I don't want to be all doom and gloom but it's something we're going to have to figure out," Mr Naylor said.
The Federal government last week promised $36 million to shows across the country with just one show - the Royal Perth Show - likely to go ahead in 2020.
Show societies are eligible for anywhere from $10,000 to $70,000 depending on their size, and Mr Naylor said any financial assistance from the government would be welcomed.
"It'll help us out as we've missed out on the show, we haven't had any income because of cancelling it, it's our only income for the year," he said.
"If it comes through then we can spend a bit on amusement but we've still got the Leeds Parade gates, toilets near the pavilion, there are lots of things which need to be done so the money'll just go."
He said while the show was able to cancel early enough to not have to pay for fireworks and most entertainment and before the schedules were printed, the Show Society was still anywhere between $6000 and $8000 out of pocket from 2020.
Exact figures will be known after the Show Society's August AGM, but key society figures forgoing payment once the show had been cancelled help lift the financial burden.
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