Rotary cancels Motorfest

Rising costs and limited volunteers have been cited as key reasons for the Drouin Rotary Club’s decision to cancel this year’s annual Motorfest.

It is unlikely the annual event, that has injected hundreds of thousands of dollars to local community groups will make a return.

Drouin Rotary Club secretary Tim Wills said factors including rising costs, declining attendance and increased pressure on a limited number of volunteers had led to the demise of the event.

“There was some delay in various administrative requirements, including insurance and permits, which made the workload to get ready in time considered too high,” he said.

“Rotary and Gippsland Tuff Streeters will work with the Lardner Park committee. They’re keen to see how we use this weekend in the future, but a burnout competition is not likely.”

Mr Wills said the event had enabled Drouin Rotary to distribute $600,000 into the community, with the West Gippsland and Neerim District Soldiers Memorial hospitals major benefactors. The event has been running for eight years.

Hundreds of people have posted comments on social media over the past week, expressing their disappointment at the loss of such a popular event, saying they were “gutted” the event would not go ahead.

Drouin Rotary and Gippsland Tuff Streeters issued a statement explaining reasons for cancelling the event on Facebook last Monday.

Several people criticised both the Rotary Club and Lardner Park management. Many questioned why there had not been a call out for volunteers, while others asked to how they could help to potentially save the event.

Many said cancellation of Motorfest was a huge blow for enthusiasts and followers.

Lardner Park chief executive Nicola Pero said while Lardner Park had offered additional resources and assistance, this had ultimately not changed the event organisers’ decision to cancel the event.

She said Lardner Park was keen to work with Drouin Rotary to establish another event to benefit the community in coming years.

“Whether that be a bigger swap meet or something like a Deni ute muster, there are other things to explore,” Ms Pero said.