Councillor Josh Cotter remembers marching in the Fisher’s Ghost parade with his school 25 years ago as an amazing experience.
The parade was given the flick by Campbelltown Council after 2019, but Cr Cotter now wants to bring it back.
So does his new political partner, Councillor Warren Morrison, who remembers being a youngster coming to Campbelltown from Fairfield to watch the parade.
Tomorrow night, at the last meeting before local government elections on September 14, Cr Cotter and Cr Morrison will seek support for their notice of motion calling on council to “investigate and report on the return of the Fishers Ghost Parade to Queen Street’’.
The pair, who have joined forces for the election and will run under a single banner – Community First – Totally Independent Party – say that bringing back the parade is more than just nostalgia.
Cr Morrison, pictured at left, says that the parade was such a big event it was also good for business people along Queen Street, and bringing it back would be welcome by them.
“I think businesses want it back, because if you look at the return for them on the day, it’s another event that brings in people to the area,’’ he said.
As for Cr Cotter, the parade is also about pride in Campbelltown, its history and its people.
“It’s something that was very unique to Campbelltown,’’ he says.
“You grew up knowing Campbelltown was the only place that had this Fisher’s Ghost parade; a parade like no other.
“And Fisher’s Ghost festival, running now for 68 years, it started in 1956.
“This is very close to my heart, and the reason we put in a notice of motion to try to bring back the parade is because I’ve heard so many people talk about the parade,’’ says Cr Cotter.
Cr Morrison agrees.
“Our cousins lived here, and we came to the Fisher’s Ghost festival, and it was the parade that no one else had, it was a big thing,’’ he says.
“It’s a big event and we need to bring it back.’’
Both councillors accept that there was a cost to ratepayers to host the parade, which is why they are seeking an investigation into how much it would cost to bring it back.
“People understand the reasoning behind the decision, but they’ve had it in their life for so long and the feedback I get is they want it back,’’ says Cr Cotter.
“Yes, there is a cost, we get that, but for me it’s about the history, the pride in our city, about something that’s unique to us that you’re taking away from us.
“And for me personally I’d have to say, I’d love to see my own kids going into the parade all these years later.’’
For Cr Morrison, going along to watch the Fisher’s Ghost parade all those years ago was a joyous occasion.
“I remember the smiles on people’s faces, no matter what age they were or where they’d come from, they all smiled, and I want to see the smiles back,’’ he says.
