Another nail has been driven into the coffin of the Weerama festival after Wyndham council withdrew a $25,000 funding pledge last week.
Wyndham’s major community festival is facing an uncertain future after the council confirmed it would not provide the Weerama festival funding it had already promised for the current financial year.
The Weerama committee applied for $60,000 last year under the council’s 2014-15 annual grants process. After raising concerns about risk management and committee governance, the council agreed to allocate $25,000 subject to a range of key performance indicators. In January this year, the Weerama committee decided to abandon this year’s festival and asked the council if it could use the grant instead to fix up governance issues, including administration and bookkeeping.
The council requested Weerama’s financial records, which it did not receive until last month, before deciding to withdraw funding.
Wyndham mayor Peter Maynard said the council decided against the alternative use of funds because it was not considered to be the best use of ratepayers’ money.
“Council’s decision should in no way be interpreted as a lack of support for the Weerama festival itself,” Cr Maynard said.
“But it was determined that the committee had financial resources it could use to complete the governance work required. It’s also worth noting that committees such as the Weerama festival committee must be able to demonstrate good governance to be eligible for a grant.”
Weerama’s outgoing committee chair- woman, Emily Grass, who stepped down last week following the announcement, said it was a shame to see Weerama’s 37-year history go down the drain.
“I understand why we didn’t get the funding,” she said.
“Clearly there were governance issues the council was concerned about and while we did our best to address them, I don’t think we’ve completely overcome them.”
Ms Grass hinted that the council decision could spell the end for the festival. “Without council backing, it’s pretty much impossible to get sponsorship from other businesses.”
