A LIFE member of the Laura Amateur Turf Club has thrown his support behind the concept of a Friday public holiday for the annual Cape York event.
Cook Shire Council has applied to have a public holiday on the Friday prior to the 2023 Laura Races, Rodeo and Campdraft weekend.
Since 2017, Cook Shire’s annual public holiday has been held on the Friday of the Cairns Show, however councillors voted last month to request a special holiday nomination for Friday, June 23, 2023.
Former Cook Shire councillor and race club life member Alan Wilson said he was in favour of the proposed new public holiday.
“I think it’s a good idea, because the holiday that we have for the Cairns Show; people aren’t really using it,” he said.
“Having it on the Laura weekend gives people from outside Laura a chance to go to the races and rodeo.”
Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott said the council was happy to be able to align the holiday with a local event.
“The Laura races and rodeo is such an iconic and important event for the whole of Cape York, so it’s a wonderful outcome to be able to give our community the extra day off to enjoy it,” he said.
Cook Shire Council said feedback from event organisers had been overwhelmingly supportive of the proposed holiday, who suggested it would improve road safety, allowing locals to travel to Laura in daylight.
