Christine Stevens, John Kennett, Mike & Maxine Beale, Neil Athorn
Festival Coordinators - AHMF 2020 National Motoring Festival
PO Box 178 Northgate Qld 4013
A few of the organisers had still planned on going to Albury to fulfil our responsibility to those people continuing on with their holiday in Albury.
With the way COVID-19 has been spreading and in view of today's government announcements, we cannot go to Albury at this time. It would be totally irresponsible for us to go.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had told Australians to avoid all non-essential domestic trips.
SA health today announced, "Effective immediately, with border control from Tuesday 24 March 2020, everyone entering South Australia will be required to self-isolate for 14-days from their arrival. This will apply to South Australians, other Australians and other travellers entering the state."
Victoria and New South Wales will push for a lockdown of non-essential activities, including businesses.
This is going to get worse before it gets better. We have to do our bit to try to put a stop the spread to the COVID-19 virus - and we don't want our motoring enthusiasts and their families to catch this virus.
IF you are still going to Albury I am happy to email you information on drives but, please note, this is not an AHMF event. The AHMF 2020 National Motoring Festival, including all drives, has been cancelled.
I will make arrangements for everybody to receive their Souvenir Tour Books, Cooler bags, regalia etc over the next month.
I will then proceed refunding the balance of the money in the AHMF events account.
We are sorry to all who have planned this holiday for some time but we cannot proceed with this event in any way.
Cheers
Christine
Christine Stevens | |
Festival Coordinator - AHMF 2020 National Motoring Festival | |
PO Box 178 Northgate Qld 4013 | |
Mobile: | 0419 789 151 |
Phone: | 07 3260 6197 a/hours Only |
Email: |
|
Web: | ahmf.org.au/2020Tour |
It is with much regret we advise, "The 2020 Festival" planned in Albury-Wodonga region Saturday 28th March to Friday 3rd April 2020 has been cancelled due to escalation of COVID-19. The Australian government has introduced a ban on non-essential gatherings of 100 people in indoor areas and 500 or more in outdoor areas. This can be reduced even further by the relevant state governments.
Until today, we were bound by a contract to proceed and, therefore, had to wait to be released from this contract before we were in a position to cancel "The 2020 Festival".
You may choose to take the drives and tour as this is a personal choice and people are in their own vehicles. Many have advised they still intend driving to Albury. These people have booked and paid and are "going on holidays in their old cars" even though "The Festival" can NOT proceed.
The Souvenir Tour Books are printed, Festival Cooler Bags purchased and printed, Signs printed and a range of regalia prepared, etc. Many people still want the "Packs" that have been prepared as a souvenir - of the event that should have been.
All entrants paid an entry fee that partially covers the cost of your Souvenir Tour Book, Festival Cooler bag, etc. We have your "Pack" and will take it to Albury for you to collect.
All entrants who have not received a refund or partial refund are entitled to:
AHMF Delegates meeting Tuesday 6:30pm to 7:30pm (daylight savings time) is a TELECONFERENCE ONLY. (Delegates will be advised dial-in codes).
You would all have seen the Cancellation / Refund Policy when you made your "on-line registration" for the event. This has also been on the website - as a separate page - since the website for the Festival went live on 30th July 2018. As you are no doubt aware, the advertised Cancellation / Refund date has been and gone.
The Australian Consumer Law says you're entitled to a refund if an event is cancelled, but not if a government ban on attendance is in place.
AHMF has cancelled the events, etc though much has already been paid or contracted/committed. Most entrants understand and do not expect a refund of the monies they have paid while others have requested a refund or a greater part of the payment they have made.
AHMF is obliged to refund sponsorship funds received to sponsors. It is also essential for the historic vehicle movement to save face and encourage these businesses to support future events.
There will be some funds remaining to make partial refunds to entrants. Our plan is to refund as much as possible to you, our entrants.
We have held numerous meetings and could have proceeded with some of the planned events as they are outdoors though, taking consideration of the health of those who entered, their families, friends and others in the community, it has been agreed, "The Festival" has been cancelled.
Any enquiries, please refer to John, Mike or myself.
Christine Stevens,
on behalf of The AHMF 2020 National Motoring Festival Committee & the AHMF President
PO Box 178 Northgate Qld 4013
Phone: | Christine Stevens | 0419 789 151 |
Mike Beale | 0428 415 241 | |
John Kennett | 0419 599 066 | |
Neil Athorn | 0408 033 839 | |
Email: |
|
|
Updates: | ahmf.org.au/2020Tour/covid-19.php |
As the situation has escalated with COVID-19, the Australian government has introduced a ban on non-essential gatherings of 100 people in indoor areas. It remains at 500 for outdoor areas.
Many have stated they wished the event had been postponed. Unfortunately postponement was not an option available to us. I (Christine) committed to this event up until 4th April, I cannot continue past that date and there is not anybody to step up and take over, leaving AHMF with 2 options - proceed with very reduced numbers or cancel.
The Festival organising committee have been working on this tirelessly with a teleconference Monday evening and another planned for Thursday evening, though we are working towards another teleconference later today. We have contracts in place it does take some negotiating to get out of them.
A reasonably large group of people are still going to Albury. They are "going on holidays in their old cars" even though much of the event cannot go ahead.
The Souvenir Tour Books are printed, Souvenir Festival Bags purchased and printed, Signs printed and a range of regalia purchased, etc.
All entrants have paid an entry fee that partially covers the cost of your Souvenir Tour Book, Festival Rally bag, etc. We do have your "Rally pack" for you. If you are not going to Albury for your holiday, can you arrange with somebody to collect it from us SS&A Club Albury on Saturday 28th March - or arrange with us after Easter?
As you are no doubt aware, the advertised Cancellation / Refund date been and gone. The Australian Consumer Law says you're entitled to a refund if an event is cancelled, but not if a government ban on attendance is in place.
We have tightened in the budget and made cancellations. Most people understand and do not expect a refund of the monies they have paid while others have requested a refund or a greater part of the payment they have made. There may be sufficient money remaining to refund; that is our plan, though at this stage no promises can be made.
There will be a further update added to the website after we have spoken
with more of our sponsors and partners to this event. Please check
the website - ahmf.org.au/2020Tour -
before emailing or phoning with your questions. If your answer is not
there, please email
.
Please exercise a little patience; I am working on this for you as quickly as I possibly can though I am sure you are aware, it took over 2 years to build this event and I have 1 week to pull it apart.
Any enquiries, please refer to John, Mike or myself.
Cheers
Christine
Christine Stevens
Festival Coordinator - AHMF 2020 National Motoring Festival
PO Box 178 Northgate Qld 4013
Phone: | Christine Stevens | 0419 789 151 |
Mike Beale | 0428 415 241 | |
John Kennett | 0419 599 066 | |
Email: |
|
|
Updates: | ahmf.org.au/2020Tour/covid-19.php |
It is not feasible to postpone the AHMF 2020 National Motoring Festival to later date.
People we have spoken with still want to bring their old car for a drive and are looking forward to their holiday.
We are working with SS&A to come up with satisfactory solutions.
The latest report received refers to non-essential gatherings of 500 or more people. We are below this figure though we are working with SS&A Club Albury to break the numbers down.
The committee and SS&A Club Albury are working hard to give you a memorable week.
Please refer back to this website for further updates.