The decision by new Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to make grand final eve a public holiday certainly raised eyebrows.
I would have thought we have enough public holidays. We even have one for the Queens Birthday in early June on a Monday in Victoria – and this Queen wasn’t born in June.
However, what’s even more mindboggling is that Mr Andrews wants to change the route of the grand final parade from the CBD to either further up St Kilda Rd, which is a mini business precinct in it’s own right, or around the MCG.
What’s the old saying about fixing stuff that ain’t broke? Ever since the inception of the parade The Melbourne city centre has been the venue and it’s worked.
The motorcade starts outside the art centre and makes it’s way along Swanston St, up Collins and then finishes on Spring St outside Parliament House. There are always huge crowds lining the streets, no matter which teams are involved.
The Premier thinks the public holiday, which he has penciled in for grand final eve, will reduce the number of people in the City for the parade.
How many parades has he attended? Sure, there’s the great sight of people hanging out of office buildings to get a birds eye of proceedings, but the majority of people make their way in for the occasion.
As the Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said, it’s a public holiday for Labor Day in March, which coincides with the Moomba Parade in Melbourne and there are big crowds.
The Premier has identified the heart of or top end of St Kilda Rd as a possible replacement location, but it’s like North Sydney on the weekend and public holidays are quiet – so why would it be a better place to hold the parade than the CBD on a public holiday.
The MCG is not a bad choice, but where do you hold it inside the venue?
It’s like playing the grand final during the day – the parade works in the CBD whether it’s a public holiday or not.
It seems Mr Andrews is seeking change for the sake of change. The current lead up celebrations before the match are rituals. For me, they comprise the 24 greatest hours or so of the year – why change what works?
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