ORGANISERS of New Year’s Eve festivities across Gannawarra Shire have praised attendees for their “stellar behaviour” throughout the night.
Cohuna’s Garden Park saw in excess of 1000 people, including locals and holiday-makers, turn out for the midnight firework display.
Organised by the Cohuna Progress Association and other community groups, event co-ordinator Jodie Hay said the night was “gorgeous”.
Ms Hay said the crowds enjoyed the street food on offer as well as live music by The Hitmen and Rachael Warren, and that the behaviour of the large crowd was stellar – even the insects seemed to be on their best behaviour.
“No mosquitoes, no flies – I think people just really loved being in such gorgeous weather,” she said.
Ms Hay said that the annual event was no doubt a draw for tourists.
“The New Years Eve celebrations are certainly a part of it,” she said.
The whole night was set up and run by volunteers from the Cohuna Progress Association, the Cohuna Scouts – who cleaned up the park after the event – and other local groups.
“There is also a lot of work that goes into preparing the site for fireworks – it’s a completely community driven [event].”
Meanwhile, Kerang Progress Association event co-ordinator, Angela Teasdale said the group was “absolutely rapt” with the turnout at Atkinson Park.
“It was magnificent – it was even bigger than last year’s crowd,” she said.
Ms Teasdale said that approximately a third of the crowd stayed for the midnight fireworks, with those families with little ones leaving after the early fireworks finished at 9.40pm.
It was the third New Year’s Eve in a row the Progress Association have put on the event.
“We’re happy to put on an all-inclusive, free event and we’ll definitely be doing it again in 2018,” Mrs Teasdale said.
“We’d love to thank everyone for their attendance, and their behaviour on the night was exceptional.”
