The association’s new president Leasa Toll blamed dwindling resources for cancellation of the 11^th annual event, which was to take place between March 8 and 10.

However, Ms Toll has confirmed that next year is to be little more than a hiatus for the Rhythm’n’Rail festival.

“We have cancelled next year but it’s not the end and we hope to deliver a festival that is fair for the committee in 2020,” Ms Toll said.

“The unavailability to obtain a train because it is hot in March and also financial reasons were behind the cancellation.”

Negotiations are now in place among business owners and community members to host a one-year alternative with lower overhead costs.

“[The festival is] a lot of money and it requires a lot of grants to make it happen every year, which puts a lot of pressure on the half-a-dozen committee members,” said Brian Beasley, who has joined the push for an interim activity.

Suggested to be called ‘The Jewels of Junee’, the event would encourage residents and visitors to make use of the town’s existing facilities.

“We’ve got a number of attractions that happen without us having to organise them, from Monte Cristo to the Roundhouse and the Broadway museums and the licorice factory,” said Mr Beasley.

Preliminary discussions have suggested even moving it to the first weekend of March, to avoid a clash with Temora Rural Museum’s live exhibition.

Bringing the potential festivities forward by a week would also allow it to be combined with the once-per-month Music in the Museum and farmers’ market. 

“Cycleways, boardwalks, the rec centre, the skatepark, there’s a lot of gems in Junee, we may as well make use of them,” said Mr Beasley.

“Keep it simple and low cost, emphasise all the things we’ve got in the community and the friendliness of the people,” he said.