Macleay Bushfire Parade and Concert
Saturday 28 March 2020

Local residents, community groups, schools and businesses will have an opportunity to thank Rural Fire Service (RFS) staff, volunteers, BlazeAid, and emergency services personnel involved in local bushfire fighting and recovery efforts, at a ‘Thank You’ parade and concert to be held in Kempsey on Saturday 28 March.

The parade will start at 11:30am at the Visitor Information Centre at South Kempsey, travel across Kempsey Bridge then continue along Belgrave Street to Tozer Street West Kempsey. The participants and their vehicles will then make their way to Verge Street Oval for a special fund-raising concert.

Admission to the concert, featuring live music from a host of acts long into the night, is by donation with all proceeds going to the local Macleay region RFS.

More than 25 emergency vehicles carrying volunteers and staff who assisted during the devastating fire season will participate in the parade, to be led by the Kempsey Silver Band.

Residents, community organisations and visitors are invited to bring along a homemade ‘Thank You’ poster or banner to wave during the parade. Local businesses along the parade route are being invited to decorate their shopfront windows and local schools and preschools are asked to make a canvas banner to hang on one of the RFS vehicles (interested schools should email communications@kempsey.nsw.gov.au) participating in the parade.

With many expected to travel some distance to watch the parade, the best places to view the parade will be on Kempsey Traffic Bridge, at Kempsey Central, along Belgrave Street and at the concert site.

Everyone is invited to follow the parade to its destination at Verge Street Oval, for the fundraising concert where the trucks will be parked up for inspection and amazing live music will flow all afternoon. The event will proceed rain, hail or shine.

Parade details

The RFS and emergency services will leave the Visitor Information Centre in South Kempsey at 11:30am. Vehicles participating in the parade include representatives from:

Kempsey

Aldavilla, Bellbrook, Clybucca, Collombatti, Crescent Head, Dondingalong, Frederickton, Gladstone, Hat Head, Kundabung, Mooneba/Turners Flat, South West Rocks, Stuarts Point/Yarrahapinni, Temagog, Willawarrin

Nambucca

Argents Hill, Eungai, Girralong, Grays Crossing/Taylors Arm, Gumma, Missabotti, Newee Creek, North Macksville, Scotts Head, South Arm, Talarm, Utungun, Valla Beach, Warrell Creek

Support

Aviation, Heavy Plant, SES, Group Officers, BlazeAid, Police, NSW Ambulance

Rolling road closures will be in place for the duration of the parade, with police managing traffic flow with the assistance of a traffic management company Men at Work who are assisting with the parade. Pedestrians are not to access the roadway during the parade and are instructed to stay on footpaths, the bridge and along the grassed open spaces along the parade route. See map for best options, parking and toilet locations.

Concert details

The Live Music Concert at the Verge Street Oval will start at 12 noon and conclude at 8pm. Seating will be available in the grandstand and on the field. Please bring a picnic rug or chair. No alcohol or glassware. A bar will be provided and food will be available for purchase. The concert will also feature amusement rides, face painting and a line-up of great performers. A sausage sizzle will be provided by Kempsey West Public School and Rotary volunteers will collect all donations to go to the RFS.

If you are interested in volunteering to assist with the concert, please visit http://careers.kempsey.nsw.gov.au