Horsham Rural City Council decided in May to move the Melbourne Cup public holiday to Horsham Cup day for the next three years.

However, Horsham principals believe the change came too late in the school year.

Horsham Primary School principal Chris Walter said while the school supported Horsham Cup, it would observe the Melbourne Cup holiday this year.

“It was simply too late to change our calendar, so we will be doing what most other schools are doing and having the Monday and Tuesday of Melbourne Cup week off,” he said.

“We support council and its decision and we will happily observe the Horsham Cup holiday from next year.”

The holiday was officially gazetted on 22 June, 2017.

Horsham’s Holy Trinity Lutheran School principal Daniel Weller said students would have Horsham Cup day off and go to school on Melbourne Cup day.

“We wanted to support the community and our families,” he said.

“We had a meeting with the other schools about it and I believe we are one of the few schools that is taking the Friday as the holiday, instead of Melbourne Cup day.”

An Education Department spokeswoman said Horsham Cup day has been officially gazetted by Horsham Rural City as a public holiday for 2017.

“Schools are this year to mark it instead of Melbourne Cup Day,” she said.

The spokeswoman said decisions to replace Melbourne Cup day were usually made well ahead of time.

“This allows schools and their communities to plan and make holiday arrangements,” she said. 

Last month, Horsham Plaza did a survey of schools and banks in the city to determine what businesses would be open on Melbourne Cup day.

Manager Allison Roberts said most schools would open on the Friday, Horsham Cup day, when working parents had the day off.

“On the Tuesday, Melbourne Cup day, schools are closed when the parents are working – what a mess,” she said.

“Has anyone considered the daycare issue for the children?”

At the time, Cr Mark Radford said he was concerned about the impact the holiday change would have on the school community.

Cr David Grimble said the holiday was now a documented and gazetted public holiday.

“This is an opportunity to highlight the municipality on a much bigger stage,” he said.