Update 5pm:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Organisers have postponed Dunkeld's Rural Women's Health Forum. In a statement, they said: "To keep everyone in high spirits, an online event instead will be run on the 1st of May. More information coming soon."
Grampians Grape Escape 2020 in Halls Gap has also been cancelled.
In a statement, organisers said: "Although we're gutted this year can't go ahead, the wonderful program we had planned will be returning in 2021 and we invite all ticket holders to stick with their tix (sic)!
"For those who will be in town visiting the Grampians on the weekend Grampians Grape Escape was planned or any other time of the year, festival organisers and Grampians Tourism want them to know that there will be an adventure for all wine lovers, outdoor explorers and foodies, so are asking people to come with a full heart and an empty esky."
Horsham Rural City Council has postponed and cancelled New Parents Group and playgroup sessions at Kalkee Road Childrens and Community Hub indefinitely.
RELATED: 2020 Stawell Gift postponed
Meanwhile RetPro, which manages Horsham Plaza shopping centre, has publicised new guidelines for centre management and retailers to minimise the virus's effect.
Horsham Town Hall has rescheduled the performance of 50 Shades from this Friday and Saturday to June 5 and 6.
Update 2.30pm:
Northern Grampians Shire Council's Stawell and St Arnaud offices will be closed unless by appointment, after staff met on Monday to discuss the council's response to the coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement on Tuesday, the council said the closure would come into effect from 4.45pm that afternoon.
"Our customer service staff will remain available to assist from 8.30am to 4.45pm, Monday to Friday over the phone or via email," it said. "Entrance to customer service will be via the Entertainment Centre at the Stawell Town Hall and via the airlock at the door to the customer service area at the St Arnaud Office."
Council-run libraries and aquatic centres will also shut from today in the Northern Grampians. New event registrations will not be processed and bookings for council facilities have ceased.
Update Tuesday 12pm:
Changes to major events in the Wimmera continue with Jung Market, Horsham Family Market and Longerenong College Graduation Ceremony postponed until further notice.
Statement from RSL Nhill Sub Branch Secretary Rhsy Webb:
"The Nhill RSL Sub Branch at this stage will be able to hold one commemorative service at 11am at the war memorial Goldsworthy Park Nhill. We have had to postpone our guest speaker Flight Lieutenant Nicole Strahan until 2021.
"No public gathering will be permitted at this event however one representative from each club or organisation will lay a wreath at the memorial if they wish to. The last post, Anzac requiem etc will still be the same. We will not be having the usual morning tea after the service at the soldiers lounge and we are unsure if we can provide a bbq either.
"We are at this stage unsure if sing Australia or Nhill- Dimboola band will be permitted to play at the service.The Nhill RSL Sub Branch thanks all supporters and members for their continued support of the Branch and would like to wish everyone to stay safe and healthy during this difficult time.
"The Nhill RSL Sub Branch will still be able to be contacted by email nhillrslsubbranch@gmail.com if you require further information at this time."
Update, Monday 4.30pm: Natimuk show will go ahead on Saturday March 28.
Natimuk Agricultural Show secretary Judith Bysouth said numbers at the show fall below the 500-limit as per government law on mass gatherings.
"The show executive however advises that if people are feeling unwell or in a high-risk category they must not attend," she said in a statement.
"Hand sanitisers will be available at the Show gate and all section.
"Dining Room will be closed for lunch and evening meal and Crop Competition to be rescheduled.
"The Easter Natimuk Farmers Market Plus 12th of April is cancelled."
Update, Sunday, 9.30pm:
Murtoa's Wine and Dine in the Stick Shed event has been cancelled "given the current public health situation".
The event was scheduled to take place on Saturday March 28 and was due to have about 200 people in attendance.
Murtoa Events said in a Facebook post that they would be contacting all ticket holders by email and issuing full refunds.
The inaugural Wine and Dine in the Stick Shed was a success and won community event of the year for Yarriambiack Shire Council Australia Day Awards.
Tickets to the second event sold out in under ten minutes.
Update Sunday 12pm: Organisers at Kalkee's Blue Ribbon Raceway have cancelled a race meeting planned for Saturday March 21.
While Horsham City Rowing Club secretary Bruce McInnes said team members would not be making the trip to Melbourne as usual next weekend.
"We got a notification from Rowing Victoria last night that they have postponed all remaining regattas this season," he said.
"We would have been travelling for team regattas to Melbourne, Mildura and Geelong between now and April, and then to Nagambie for the masters state championships. There would be well over 500 people attending each of those regattas."
Mr McInnes said the club spoke to its junior members and their parents about potentially not attending the Melbourne events before they were cancelled. He hoped the postponed events could be rescheduled to late April.
"We will continue to train but we do that for health as much as regattas," he said.
While the Dimboola Boat and Water Ski Club has confirmed the Peter Taylor Memorial Tournament set for March 28 had been cancelled.
Saturday March 14: Events across the Wimmera and Grampians have announced they will no longer go ahead due to escalating COVID-19 issues.
Wimmera Mail-Times, Stawell Times-News and Ararat Advertiser will provide rolling coverage of the events cancelled as they are announced.
Going to a major event? Major events dumped, postponed after virus
Heading out of town? Ballarat events during coronavirus pandemic: cancelled or proceeding?
Tennis finals and the final round of the Horsham Cricket Association are going ahead, but an uncertain future awaits football and netball in the Wimmera.
Also relevant: the Wimmera Health Care Group advises how to properly wash your hands.
MARCH
Horsham College postpone Deb Ball, school camps
Horsham College has postponed its annual Debutante Ball and Year Eight school camps, after "considerable discussion".
Principal Rob Pyers said in a statement that the decision was based upon advice from the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services.
Mr Pyers said regular school activities would continue.
"Our regular day to day classes will continue at this stage and we will continue to be as open and transparent in our processes and decision making as we can," he said in a statement.
"We are already planning for future events if required and are looking at ways to ensure students are able to continue with their learning if circumstances change."
Horsham Town Hall events
All scheduled performances at Horsham Town Hall will go ahead because the venue only holds up to 480 people, Venue Manager Shana Miatke said in a statement posted to Facebook on Friday afternoon.
"With the recent update of venue closures overseas and the postponement of some music festivals in Australia we felt it important to share that our theatre can accommodate 480 patrons, we do not have the same number of patrons coming through our doors as these organisations," she said.
"To date, we have not received any advice that would alter our performance schedule, and we look forward to welcoming you to the theatre soon. If we do need to close our doors, ticket holders will be eligible for a full refund or exchange."
Ms Miatke said they had taken precautionary measures at the venue such as increasing the frequency and detail of cleaning, sterilising high touch areas three times a shift, and making hand sanitiser available for all patrons and staff.
Grampians Texture
The event will still go ahead with a modified schedule. An evening market on Saturday March 14 will still be going ahead as planned.
Sunset on the Park Pride Night, March 14
A spokesperson from the Wimmera Pride Project said the event on Saturday at The Vic Hotel in Horsham would be going ahead.
The pride night features DJ Troy Schmidt, raffles and an eco-friendly glitter station.
Horsham Country Music Festival, March 26
Update, Friday, March 13, 3.40pm: The Horsham Country Music Festival has been called off.
The festival's committee announced the decision on Friday afternoon after Prime Minister Scott Morrison recommended that public gatherings of more than 500 people do not go ahead.
Horsham Country Music Festival committee member Pam Clarke said they were concerned for the health of attendees.
"We're very concerned that the main attenders of this festival are older people, and they are the most vulnerable people," she said.
"For the Prime Minister to make that call is really relevant and important to the health of the community."
Earlier: Lyall Wheaton said the Horsham Country Music Festival would go ahead and that any decision to cancel would be made a week before "unless something extraordinary comes along in the meantime."
"At this point in time we don't have any plan to cancel it," he said. "We believe we can continue."
Mr Wheaton said he had spoken to Horsham Rural City Council's environmental health officer Luke Mitton on Thursday about preparations.
"There had been certainly no talk then of our festival being closed," he said. "We talked about having hand sanitiser and that sort of stuff."
Asked about the possibility that coronavirus concerns could drive down attendee numbers Mr Wheaton said he wasn't too worried.
"If people elect not to come then that's their prerogative," he said. "We're not hearing that there are masses of people that are not going to come but that might change in the next fortnight, I don't know. "
State Little Athletics Championships March 14-15
The Little Athletics Victoria's state championships have been postponed due to the coronavirus.
The championships were scheduled to take place in Melbourne at the weekend.
Eight little athletes from the Horsham Little Athletics Club and nine from the Stawell Little Athletics Club were intending to compete at the event.
"In the light of rapid developments in recent days with respect to the coronavirus pandemic, the decision has been taken to postpone the 2020 State Track & Field Championships," Little Athletics Victoria said in a statement.
"Every effort will be made to find a suitable alternate date later in 2020."
APRIL
Rupanyup DiRT MuSIC Festival, April 5
The Rupanyup DiRT MuSIC Festival has been cancelled.
The festival was scheduled for Sunday, April 5.
"We feel it would be irresponsible for us to go ahead with it and put our small community at risk of Coronavirus, as well as risking all those of you who travel to perform here," the festival said in a statement.
Youth Festival, April 5
A spokesman from Horsham Rural City Council said they were still deciding whether or not the Youth Festival on April 5 in Sawyer Park would go ahead. About 150 people aged between 12-25 attended the inaugural event last year.
We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.
More coverage;
More to come.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox twice weekly from the Wimmera Mail-Times. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Wimmera, sign up here.