Rotary Clubs have organised fireworks and other New Year’s Eve celebrations at Esperance Bay for a number of years. Photo: Warwick and Karen Baum.
The Rotary Club of Esperance has dropped plans to host New Year’s Eve fireworks in Esperance this year.
The decision comes the week after Council approved a $15,000 community grant for the event, not the $25,000 Rotary had asked for.
Club president Kelly Starcevich said her members were “very very disappointed” and hoped another group could take it on.
We asked what prompted the decision.
“It is a multitude of factors, general funding and an inability to secure funding for fireworks over the Bay which is an environmental issue,” she said.
“The funding for a laser show is prohibitive.
“We hadn’t decided if it was even going to have a finale.”
She said it had been a “difficult decision” after many months of careful consideration and planning.
“The Rotary Club of Esperance has been proud to host this event for the last two years and we understand how important this celebration is to the Esperance community,” she wrote in a prepared statement.
“Stepping back is not a decision we make lightly, and we share in the disappointment that we are not able to provide the safe, inclusive and joyful event our community deserves.
“While Rotary will not be hosting the New Year’s Eve festival, we remain hopeful that another group may be able to carry the event forward.”
Ms Starcevich thanked volunteers, sponsors, community partners, and the people of Esperance for their support and understanding.
“Rotary remains committed to serving Esperance and looks forward to continuing our work through other local projects and events in the year ahead,” she said.
This would include the Australia Day celebrations, for which the Shire granted the club $15,000.
Meanwhile, the Weekender admits to making an error in reporting the grant (Weekender, July 25 page 3).
Council voted to grant Rotary Club of Esperance $15,000 for the event, not $25,000 as we reported. We apologise for the error.
