MILLICENT’S popular pre-Christmas street party will not be returning after a lack of committee involvement and management of the long-running event.
The region’s sole Christmas Eve event will be replaced by the Millicent Business Community Association’s (MBCA) Millicent Lights Up event, which will be held at the rotunda parklands on Saturday night.
A public meeting into the future of the event attracted representatives from the MBCA, Geltwood Committee, Millicent Lions and two members of the public, with none of the attendees willing to commit to hosting the party.
Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi said while he was personally saddened the Christmas Eve event was no longer viable, he encouraged community members to attend the Saturday evening festivities.
“From a personal point of view, it saddens me as I have been attending our Christmas Eve street party since I was a child,” he said.
“I acknowledge times have changed and we need to embrace the Millicent Lights Up event as our major Christmas event.
“It is not unusual to have Christmas events earlier in the year, Mount Gambier has already held its major Christmas event, which is the Christmas pageant.”
The street party was originally run by the business association until Wattle Range Council took over the event’s coordination in 2014.
In a letter to council, MBCA chair Lee Morgan attributed the withdrawal to a lack of volunteers, business pressures and family obligations.
While the event was managed in the first year through council staff and a community committee, community involvement dwindled down to two active members in 2017.
“As a stop gap measure, council ran the event with anticipation it would be picked up by another community organisation,” Mr Gandolfi said.
“The general feeling by members of community groups was that volunteers wanted to spend Christmas Eve with their families.
“The MBCA believes it did not have widespread support within the business community.
“There are also additional pressures on small business, in recent years the State Government declared Christmas Eve a public holiday from 7pm.
“In retail for example, there would be a 225pc loading on staff wages, therefore penalty rates make it very difficult to be viable to trade on
public holidays.”
Earlier this year, council resolved to make a $3000 financial contribution along with in-kind support towards the event to community groups or service clubs willing to steer the celebrations.
Following a lack of interest, council allocated $2000 to the MBCA to complete installation of the solar LED lighting of 40 trees in George Street to complement the event.
“I encourage all community members to attend the Millicent Lights Up event on Saturday evening,” Mr Gandolfi said.
“I anticipate it to be a great family event with a range of activities for people of all ages.”
The Millicent Lights Up event starts at 6pm and will feature a magician, face painters and a free jumping castle and mini-golf.
Millicent Scouts and Girl Guides will provide games for children and service clubs will cook sausages, sandwiches and hot chips.
