Wool industry's Fleece to Fashion Awards Gala event, set for Deeargee Woolshed, in Uralla, falls victim to COVID-19

The celebration of the wool industry was due to draw several hundreds people to the small town from across the country.

But despite being postponed from September to November, the event board announced a decision to cancel the event due to the uncertainty of coronavirus lockdowns, on Wednesday.

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Fleece to Fashion chairman Lachlan Fulloon of Cressbrook Merinos Armidale said it was a difficult decision to cancel the 2021 event.

"Our gala event seeks to bring together several hundred patrons from all over the country to celebrate the compelling story of Australian merino wool production and its esteemed presence within the top fashion and textile manufacturing capitals across the world," Mr Fulloon said.

"This is no easy feat during a global pandemic."

Mr Fulloon said they had hoped that by this stage in the year, the COVID-19 restrictions may have relaxed somewhat, allowing events like theirs to proceed in a normal fashion.

"We believe the right thing to do is to refocus our attention on the 2022 awards and look to hold a most impressive celebration of wool fashion here in the New England, when guests, sponsors, entrants, and the wider agricultural and wool fashion community can gather in person as we had always intended," he said.

Wool fashion events are vitally important to promote the wool sector, Mr Fulloon said.

The 2019 awards were held at PLC in Armidale.

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