As you are all aware, the Coronavirus pandemic has had a massive impact on all aspects of life and that now includes NPCC. Apart from the fact that it is impossible to hire a venue, public or private, in any State or Territory, due to the risk of contamination, many of our members fall within the most vulnerable age group for catching this virus. While at present, there is an arbitrary limit of 100 people max in a venue (this could change at any time), it only takes one contaminated individual and the results could be devastating. There is data advising that the virus can live on surfaces and in the air for a number of hours. This would make the cost of post-convention disinfection of the venue astronomical. To compound the problem, we are required to provide 4sqm for each person within a meeting a room (and maintain a 1.5-2m distance between each other otherwise) as well as wash our hands before and after touching objects that may have been touched or will be touched by others. These circumstances make it impossible to hold the National at the present time.

While members are no doubt devastated that the National will not be going ahead, it would be so much worse if we could manage to get it off the ground and one or more of our members, or others that we come into contact with, caught the virus and became sick or died.

Thanks for your understanding and here's to a bigger and better National in 2021.