Tamworth True organising Happy New New Year 2020 event to start a clean slate with financial year

Tamworth True plans to use the new financial year as a new New Year's Eve to help lift spirits across the region and provide a time to reflect on the tumultuous events of 2020, so far.

The group's founder Jody Ekert noticed a meme circulating on Twitter and it stuck with her.

"It feels like the town is lagging in spirit, and the meme popped into my head and I thought 'let's make that happen'," she said.

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The new financial year kicks off on July 1, but the group decided to hold their new event 'New New Year 2020' on the weekend prior.

"If we're inventing a new tradition, we can invent anything," Ms Ekert said.

"We hereby decree that New New Years Eve is Saturday, June 27."

Ms Ekert said it's not about wiping out the tumultuous events of 2020 - like the bushfires, drought and coronavirus, but about start again with renewed hope.

"It's an opportunity to talk about stuff that's gone on, and be more hopeful and forward-looking, to put some joy into the year," Ms Ekert said.

It's totally community driven, meaning people are free to go "rogue" with ideas.

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"We want people to share with us what they do, and to suggest what they think, and then go crazy with it and document it for the town," she said.

Ideas the group have heard from locals so far include going to the pub in a small group, holding a backyard barbecue, chalk drawing on driveways and watching countdowns and fireworks on YouTube.

Ms Ekert also suggested turning a new page, literally.

"People like might to buy financial year diaries and decorate them, get a fresh diary and a fresh page and say let's start now," she said.

Plans for the evening are still in the process, but Ms Ekert hopes to get some local businesses on board for 'New New Year's Eve'.

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