Ficifolia future threatened
People power is needed to save Drouin’s annual Ficifolia Festival.
The 30th annual festival in 2018 may not eventuate if community members don’t stand up and help.
The festival’s recent annual general meeting was adjourned for four weeks and is in serious danger of folding if new people do not come forward to help.
President Vin Bibby said it would be sad to see the festival cancelled, but the reality was more people were needed to help and take on committee positions.
“The Drouin Ficifolia Festival has experienced 29 years of providing fantastic entertainment to Drouin and the surrounding community.
“It has enjoyed great patronage whereby thousands of people have immersed themselves in the events and activities offered every February in Drouin.
“Unfortunately, the festival is in serious danger of not staging the 30th anniversary event. Due to a lack of new committee members and helpers the current committee may have no choice but to cancel the festival,” he said.
The committee held its annual general meeting on May 24. Mr Bibby said one new person attended the meeting and regrettably there were no nominations for any of the office bearer positions.
As a result, Mr Bibby adjourned the meeting until June 22 in the hope that more people will come forward.
“If no-one from the community puts up their hand to help, the festival will be cancelled.
“The current committee consists of people that have been helping for a number of years and realise new ideas are needed to ensure longevity,” he said.
Mr Bibby, who has been involved with the festival committee since its beginning, took on president last year to help out. But, he said he was not in a position to keep doing the job.
“I’ve been there since it started. We need people from the community to step forward,” he said.
Mr Bibby said other festivals had gone into recess to try and find new committee but it was not desirable, as he felt the festival would lose momentum.
Mr Bibby said a lot of the programming of events was already in place but a co-ordinating committee was needed to oversee organisation and sponsorship.
He said different groups and organisations already ran parts of the festival such as the Baw Baw Arts Alliance running the art exhibition and the Rotary Club was committed to running the street parade.
He said any organisations or groups that wanted to be part of the activities in the park could get involved.
Mr Bibby said there was great potential for the community and business community to support the town’s annual festival and continue to make it a success.
Mr Bibby called on anyone that could offer their time to attend a meeting once a month and assist with tasks including handing out flyers, putting together marketing material, composure of events/festival program, gathering sponsorship and sharing their ideas.
“What will the 30th Ficifolia Festival hold? The opportunities to take charge and create a bigger and better event is in the community’s hands. Don’t let the 29th year be the last – put your hand up and save our festival.
“Many hands make light work, together the community can make this happen,” he said.
The next meeting will be on Thursday, June 22, 7.30pm at the Drouin CWA Hall. Contact Rhona Hendrick (0419 556 682) or Vin Bibby (0407 255 502) for more information.