Liverpool Plains Military Tattoo cancelled indefinitely

Low attendance, limited funding and uncertainty regarding long-term financial sustainability have signalled the end of the Liverpool Plains Military Tattoo.

Liverpool Plains Shire Council this month advised that the Quirindi-based event will not be held this financial year and its budgeted funding of $25,000 be transferred to next financial year.

A review of the military tattoo against the broad objectives of council’s investment in major events by Arts North West highlighted low audience attendance to the Liverpool Plains Military Tattoo in comparison to the cost of staging the event and uncertainty regarding the long-term financial sustainability of the event.

The critical findings from the review found the percentage of return audience was very small at 20 per cent; the event had failed to attract significant audience members from across or beyond the shire and the economic benefit of the event was not shared across the shire.

Mayor Cudmore noted while disappointed to see the military tattoo taken off the agenda for 2025, he acknowledged it was too late for the event to take place this year.

Council also resolved to include the development of an events strategy in the revised Arts and Cultural Plan due for completion in July 2025.

“We are not saying the military tattoo won’t happen again. This resolution gives council and the community an opportunity to consider what events can be held in the future and for the budget allocated for the 2024/2025 financial year to be transferred to 2025/26 financial year,” mayor Cudmore said.

In addition to reviewing the data collected from attendees and surveys, Arts North West considered the military tattoo in comparison to two similar events, Glen Innes and Severn’s Australian Celtic Festival and the Aberdeen Highland Games.

Key findings for the Liverpool Plains event included, a lack of relevance and connectedness to the community; challenges in attracting audiences from outside the 1.5 hour radius; the level of investment required for a major regional event was between $150,000 and $200,000; low audience attendance in comparison to the cost of staging the event ($80 – $100 per person) and the format of a military tattoo did not foster opportunities for involving the community.

Given the scale of investment, ($150,000 – $200,000) and the labour intensive nature of staging and producing public events, LPSC’s business paper stated there was a strong case for council to reconsider its role in developing and supporting major public events across the Liverpool Plains shire.

Last year’s military tattoo at Longfield Oval, Quirindi, was the event’s fifth year. Council originally budgeted for $25,000 but the eventual cost of the event was more than $70,000.