Due to the wet weather a scaled-down version of the event will be held at the Shoalhaven Entertain-ment Centre instead.

The relay will now be held at the  centre tomorrow from 8.30am, with team check-in, and will run until 7pm.

Shoalhaven City Council staff made the decision to rule out the Nowra Showground due to the state of the grounds on Wednesday.

Cancer Council community relations co-ordinator Terry Deegan said the committee fully understood council’s decision.

“We bear council no grudges and their staff members have been continually in touch with us to offer their assistance,” he said.

It’s the first time since the event started in 2004 that weather has created such drama.”

At the entertainment centre an opening ceremony will take place at 9.15am after which cancer survivors will walk the first lap.

The event will finish on Saturday with the emotional hope and closing ceremonies starting at 5.30pm.

Shoalhaven Nowra Relay For Life committee chairperson Kimberley McMahon-Coleman said she hoped people would still attend the event.

“We still want to thank everyone who has been busy fund-raising so we want people to attend,” she said.

Ms McMahon-Coleman said it was the people who made the event special, not the venue.

She said the committee never considered cancelling or rescheduling.

“Cancelling or rescheduling does not fit in the relay mantra. We fight on and never give up hope,” she said.

She said the committee decided not to reschedule because it did not want to assume people would be available to attend at another time.

This week’s rain hasn’t been out of character for this time of year according to those who watch the weather for a living.

HMAS albatross Naval Air Station meteorologist Lieutenant Paul Molomolo said the wet weather that hit the Shoalhaven this week was part of the seasonal transition period.

He said a trough over Central NSW was the cause of this week’s wet weather on the South Coast.

“This weather is typical for the transition from summer weather to winter weather,” he said.

“During transitions you get all sorts of weird stuff like days of rain and showers.

“Once we transition into winter the weather will stabilise.

“We are also seeing temperatures starting to cool. In January we were in the 30s and now we’re into the 20s.

Lt Molomolo said he expected the showers to start to clear Friday night.

The weather over the weekend is predicted to be partly cloudy with isolated showers.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology a transient low is expected to develop off the NSW coast by the end of Friday. This system should move rapidly away to the east during the weekend.

Daytime temperatures over the weekend are expected to reach the mid to high 20s.

The rain has led to a number of cancellations throughout the region with many sporting events having to postpone as grounds remain too wet.

The South Coast Group 7 Junior International Representative Trials set to be held this Saturday, March 29 have been postponed.

The Group 7 junior representative committee met last night, Thursday, March 27 to make a decision as to whether the trials will be held at a later date.

For all the details about Group 7 cancellations visit Footy HQ on our website at www.southcoast register.com.au.