The mere thought of once again wandering through the “world food village” and taking in all the exotic aromas is enough to make me hungry.

A couple of months ago there was some chatter about whether Wagga needed to create a ‘big event’ to stamp the city as a must-visit regional tourism destination.

Tamworth has the country music festival, Parkes the Elvis festival, Deniliquin the ute muster.

The success of these annual events is such that these places remain drawcards for tourists right throughout the year.

Perhaps we don’t need to create an event. Perhaps, in Fusion, we already have one capable of putting Wagga on the map.

It is always fraught with danger to meddle with a successful event. Think of what all the chopping and changing did to Griffith’s now defunct La Festa.

But, if this year’s event on October 20 builds on the success of previous editions, what’s to say it couldn’t expand?

Wagga is now so much more than “The City of Good Sports”. It is an increasingly multicultural and cosmopolitan regional centre.

Nothing better reflects this change than Fusion.

All the best for the week ahead, Ross.