WITH the Bureau of Meteorology recording the peak of the day’s temperature at 38 degrees in Taree – there’s no denying Saturday, January 14 was HOT. The heat coincided with the inaugural run of food festival TasteFest on the Manning, which was held on the Manning River foreshore at Queen Elizabeth Park. The heat didn’t affect numbers with the event drawing 12,000 – however suggestions have been made to organisers Taree Lions Club the date should be changed to a cooler month. President of Taree Lions Club Phil Grisold said, ‘it would be reactive thinking instead of forward planning’ to change the date.
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“The heat was a freak incident in that it was a record high,” Phil said.
“It would be panicky to change the date or season of the event when the weather is an unavoidable factor.”
Phil said the date was chosen as it does not clash with other food festivals and fits between two major Manning events – the Wingham Rodeo and Troy Bayliss Classic as well as coinciding with the Rowing Regatta. Phil said, “we will consider changing the event times – to allow for more time in the evening”.