A drone show that will tell the story of Fred Fisher’s ghost from 200 years ago almost got the chop at last night’s Campbelltown City Council meeting.
Confronted by a total bill of more than $800,000 for this year’s festival, some councillors raised concerns that such expenditure during a cost of living crisis could be perceived as insensitive.
A proposal by two councillors, Adam Zahra and Cameron McEwan, to drop the drone shows and use some of the money to make the planned fireworks even more spectacular was defeated when put to the vote.
Mayor Darcy Lound, who came up with the idea for drone shows, told the council before the vote that while he understood the push to cut costs, he would have been very disappointed if it won through.
Eventually every councillor present fell into line for the final vote, which approved the proposed expenditure for the 70th Festival of Fisher’s Ghost.
Indeed the final vote to endorse the funding for the festival was unanimous, which made the Mayor happy.
“The drone shows is about something different in a milestone year for the festival,’’ he said.
“These shows will tell the story of Fred Fisher’s ghost, and I think it will be a wonderful addition,’’ he said.
Deputy mayor Jayden Rivera (Greens) was all in for this year’s expanded landmark festival program.
“This is an opportunity to celebrate something that’s so iconic for our community, and to mark the 200th and 70th anniversaries,’’ he said.
Councillor Josh Cotter, who along with Councillor Warren Morrison launched a campaign during the last council elections to bring back the traditional festival parade, also welcomed the endorsement of the budget for 2026.
“It’s good that we’re working together – some of you may have seen that the Mayor and I met yesterday and had a chat about supporting the festival,’’ Cr Cotter said.
“I am proud that we will deliver such a great festival together as a council.’’
The 2026 Festival of Fisher’s Ghost will be held during the first two weeks of November.
