Despite celebrating its 25th year in 2017, festival president Ian Head said the lack of volunteer support and the inability to find and employ a Festa producer to organise the school’s participation, events and administration early enough in the year was fundamental in the decision.

“It is the hidden tasks that require time and people power. These include preparing grant allocations and acquittals, obtaining road closure approvals, preparing safety plans, ensuring stall holders meet food handling standards, fundraising, marshalling events such as the lantern parade, fireworks, street march, the landscape art prize competitions, the family concert and many other administrative tasks,” he said. “All this requires the appointment of an experienced Festa director/producer and a strong team of dedicated volunteers and committee members.”

But Mr Head also said the financial cost of running the Festa was another issue which contributed to arriving at the decision to cancel the 2018 event.

“Raising enough funding for the Festa is always a stressful issue, but the Hepburn Shire and the Victorian Government Office of Multicultural Affairs had given the Festa a three-year grant commitment, which provided partial funding certainty,” he said.  “We were in the second year of these funding agreements and the committee was very grateful for their commitment. However, to be financially strong, the Festa must also generate income from events, local business support, sponsorship and private donations to meet the costs of entertainment, fireworks, public liability insurance, marketing, program and poster printing, road signage, and St John’s Ambulance fees.”

Mr Head said he and vice president Ian Tinetti believed a younger group was needed to take the festival on in coming years.

 If you are interested in joining the 2019 committee or being listed as a volunteer helper for next year, please register your interest at: info@swissitalianfesta.com