Rally action as seen at Healesville last year … but not this year.By Kath Gannaway
YARRA Valley’s annual fix of octane-driven entertainment – the Rally of Melbourne – is off the agenda for this year.
The rally is the final round of the Australian Rally Championship and a highlight of the annual Yarra Valley event calendar.
The event attracts competitors and spectators into the valley to see Australian and international rally teams competing over two days around September/October on bush roads around Toolangi, Marysville and Don Valley.
Final stages have been held in recent years at De Bortoli Winery in Dixons Creek and last year at Healesville Showgrounds.
Event director Neil Cuthbert said it was a difficult decision.
Mr Cuthbert attributed fallout from difficulties in the global economic credit market for the decision to cancel the rally. The organising team is now expected to focus on the 2009 event.
The combined effects of a sponsorship shortfall and the loss of traditional lines of funding from the ARC series, left a significant funding gap, which made the event in 2008 not viable, Mr Cuthbert said.
“It’s an unfortunate fact that conditions in the global economy, which have nothing to do with the viability of our event, can indirectly impact on our sport,” he said.
“Instead, we have made the decision to hold over all work on this year’s event to focus on something special for 2009.”
Local CFA brigades have had a big involvement in the event in recent years.
Healesville CFA captain Graeme Bates said his members volunteered their time for the rally so it would not impact on their fundraising.
“We just do it to support the rally. We have fun, and we’ll miss it this year,” he said.
