From the Publisher Resigned to our Fate?
Published by Australian Leisure Media Pty Ltd, 102 Taiyul Road, North Narrabeen, NSW 2101 (PO Box 478, Collaroy, NSW 2097) AUSTRALIA ABN 32 092 549 721
Tel: 02 9970 8322 E-mail: leisure@ausleisure.com.au www.ausleisure.com.au Twitter: @AusLeisure Facebook: www.facebook.com/AusLeisure Editor Karen Sweaney Publisher Nigel Benton Design Australian Leisure Media Pty Ltd Contributors Shaun McKeogh and Gwen Luscombe
Advertising Inquiries Nigel Benton Tel: 02 9970 8322 Email: nigel@ausleisure.com.au Printed in Australia by Pegasus Print Group Building B, 1A Bessemer Street, Blacktown NSW 2148 Tel: 02 8822 0600, www.pegasusprintgroup.com.au The annual subscription cost is AUS $90 (inclusive of GST) in Australia, New Zealand and throughout the Rest of the World. Members of AALARA, ARNA, ASPA, ASSA, EVANZ, ExerciseNZ, IAKS, LIWA Aquatics, the Sports and Play Industry Association and the VMA receive the magazine as a membership benefit. The views contained in Australasian Leisure Management are not necessarily those of Australian Leisure Media Pty Ltd or the Editor. While every care is taken with advice given, Australian Leisure Media Pty Ltd and the Editor can take no responsibility for effects arising therefrom. Views expressed by contributors may be personal and are not necessarily the views of their employers or professional associations.
© Australasian Leisure Management, 2021. ISSN 1446-1374
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It is sad and remarkable to reflect that after all the tribulations endured in 2020, as the Coronavirus pandemic erupted into our daily lives, that, with the rest of the world opening up, Australia and New Zealand remain isolated with low levels of vaccinations, ongoing lockdowns and almost non-existent international travel. Having endured through the first year of the pandemic, I think all in the industry share the frustrations that the sacrifices made during that time now count for little as new and unexpected restrictions and lockdowns impact all areas of life and especially our business, employment and activities. The current climate of snap lockdowns, border closures and restrictions also have a massive effect on consumer confidence and business’ ability not only to operate but also to plan. For sectors such as live entertainment, sporting events and venues, the uncertainty created by lockdowns makes it nearly impossible to plan. Perhaps the most applicable example of this are major tours planned by international acts Guns N’ Roses and Kiss for the last quarter of the year. Seen as being key to rebooting Australia’s live performance industry, promoters, who have already sold hundreds of thousands of tickets for the nationwide performances, have made comprehensive provisions for these tours to be staged. However, at the time of writing, and while there has been no confirmation of any change of dates, it appears likely the tours will be postponed to 2022, with massive costs and inconvenience for all involved – the fans, the venues, the promoters, the acts and many other stakeholders. And perhaps the most significant aspect of ongoing lockdowns appears to be that the industry is seemingly accepting that the closing down of its activities are inevitable, with bodies who have previously lobbied and flagged all the benefits that this industry brings - such as Fitness Australia, Live Performance Australia and Vic Active - seeming to have nothing new to say and may well be, like many of us, resigned to our fate.
‘Correct at the time of publication’ While developments in this industry are constant, the uncertainty of the past year has seen us frequently using terms such as “at the time of writing” (as you can see above), “correct at the time of publication” or similar terms with what is published in Australasian Leisure Management. However, the emergence of Coronavirus and the near daily changes in impacting society means that what we might report as open one day, is closed the next. With that in mind, what readers will find in this issue is correct as we publish it - but matters may have moved on by the time you read it. And despite a somewhat gloomy scenario in this editorial, this issue of Australasian Leisure Management covers extraordinary initiative, imagination, resilience, entrepreneurship and community in catering for the leisure needs of our populations. Such traits remain vital in meeting the challenges we now face and making the most of the post-COVID world. Nigel Benton, Publisher
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