Community sport competitions have been cancelled for the weekend and NBL and NAB League matches scheduled for Bendigo have been postponed following the state government's decision to place Victoria in a five-day lockdown.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Saturday's Marong Cup race meeting at the Bendigo Jockey Club will go ahead, but without crowds, while Saturday night's National Basketball League match scheduled for Bendigo Stadium between Melbourne United and Cairns Taipans has been postponed.
More information regarding tickets to the United-Taipans game will be communicated in due course. Until then, ticket holders may request a refund via the Ticketek website if they wish.
"The safety of our community is and always will be our number one priority. We will continue in our team's preparations and look forward to taking the court again as soon as possible,'' Melbourne United chief executive officer Vince Crivelli said:
"Our thoughts are with all Victorians as we embark on yet another lockdown, but we are confident that we shall get through this together.
"We would like to thank the City of Greater Bendigo for playing host to our opening two home games, and we look forward to working with all of our stakeholders in the region as we continue to build a home away from home for our organisation."
The Bendigo District Cricket Association cancelled all senior and junior matches for the weekend, including Friday night's junior games.
Emu Valley Cricket Association matches are off and Tuesday night's Twenty20 grand final between United and Sedgwick at Ewing Park will be re-scheduled.
Bendigo Bowls Division weekend pennant matches, scheduled for Saturday, and midweek pennant matches, scheduled for Monday, are also off.
Little athletics and senior athletics competitions are the Flora Hill complex are also prohibited until the lockdown is lifted.
Local golf courses are also off limits over the five-day period.
Read more: Victoria enters five-day lockdown
The BJC was expecting a crowd of close to 2000 people to attend the popular Marong Cup meeting, which was a fundraiser for local Catholic primary schools.
Patrons who had pre-purchased tickets or corporate packages will receive a full refund.
"It was the strongest pre-race sales we'd had (for Marong Cup day) in more than five years,'' BJC chief executive Aaron Hearps said.
"It had taken a lot of work to get the course ready for the patrons, but the decision was out of our hands.
"It's disappointing for Marong and the schools because the dividend each school receives will be affected."
The Bendigo Pioneers were scheduled to play their first home game of the season at Epsom-Huntly Recreation Reserve against the Greater Western Victoria Rebels on Sunday.
The AFL released a statement stating all NAB League girls matches over the weekend were postponed and that no training for boys or girls teams could take place until the lockdown is lifted.
"The health and safety of everyone in the NAB League and wider community remains the priority and the AFL will continue to take the advice of governments and health officials as it works through fixturing alternatives for the NAB League girls to ensure matches are played, however, acknowledges the situation is fluid and any decision made may change,'' the AFL statement said.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.