I haven't been to Mildura for nearly 36 years, having been a Cup regular for the previous decade. My wife has never been there so I booked in nice and early last month for the week. My wife started holidays last Monday knowing we wouldn't be going to the races. Since then, I have been advised I am in the "high risk" category (due to a recent hospital stay and chemotherapy) and to stay home. I can handle that.
This afternoon I rang our hotel in Mildura to cancel and the reception pre-empted the nature of my call. She said she had worked there for 15 years and had never made more cancellations than she had the past fortnight. Shortly after, I found out the three race meetings scheduled there next week have been "postponed". The economic impact to the town must be immense. We have already made a decision to spend a week there in September.