Mount Gambier’s annual Blue Lake Fun Run has been cancelled for the second year due to uncertainty around COVID-19 restrictions.

Event organiser Lakes Rotary made the announcement last week, with club spokesman Trevor Williams expressing disappointment.

“With the uncertainty of not knowing what vaccination levels, face mask requirements, social distancing and crowd size regulations will be at the end of November, recent events in Adelaide and the eastern states, Lakes Rotary – having the health and well-being of the community foremost in their mind – has decided to exercise an abundance of caution and reluctantly cancelled the Fun Run for 2021,” he said.

“Unlike other events, the fun run would bring a large number of people … into a confined space where social distancing would be very difficult and the wearing of a face mask very uncomfortable, if not impossible.

“We realise some will be disappointed, none more so than those in the club who have made considerable effort to bring the event to this point with three months to go when the hard work really begins.

“The greatest disappointment would be to have to cancel at the last moment.”

Mr Williams said the club wanted to extend thanks to sponsors including OneFortyOne, SA Power Networks, Mount Gambier City Council and Exchange Printers.

“Without their support the fun run would not exist and we hope they will stay with us into 2022,” he said.

“In the conversations we have had it’s obvious people understand the fragility of these times and the necessity for caution. I think everyone knows that Lakes Rotary is here to support Mount Gambier and we hope you understand our actions and will stand with us.

“We’re down but not out. There have been murmurings a virtual fun run may be possible. It’s complicated, we’re a small group of volunteers but we have experts among us.  Stay tuned to our Facebook and website links. If we can, we will.”