EXCITEMENT and anticipation filled Lonsdale Street Saturday night as the community gathered for the annual New Year’s Eve Kid’s Street Party at Melville Oval to celebrate the end of 2022.

Held by The Rotary Club of Hamilton, the street party saw an impressive crowd attend to enjoy the festivities on offer including face painting, a jumping castle, water games by Hamilton Fire Brigade and live music.

The Rotary Club of Hamilton president and New Year’s Eve Kid’s Street Party coordinator, James Dishon said it was fantastic to see so many smiling faces at the event as children of all ages explored what was on offer.

“It was hard to estimate the number of families and children attending - suffice to say that it was many hundreds of enthusiastic participants,” he said.

“The children were treated to free train rides, face painting, jumping pillow type rides, fire brigade fun activities and giveaways, free glow sticks, and music from popular Hamilton duo – Mista Beat.

“The event was held in perfect warm weather and was well emceed by the Reverend Peter Cook.”

There was also plenty of food on offer with the Hamilton Lions Club cooking and selling sausages as well as soft drinks on behalf of Rotary.

Mr Dishon said it was important to thank everyone who helped to bring the much-loved community event to life.

“Rotary is very appreciative of the support provided by the Southern Grampians Shire Council with their financial grant to this function and the invaluable administrative support of its Visitors Support Team headed by Mary McArthur, assisted by her offsider Simone Logan, and the logistic support provided by Brett Homes and his team,” he said.

“The Club would like to thank all those people including their own members who have once again made this function such an amazing success.”

The evening also involved a fireworks display organised by the Southern Grampians Shire Council which saw the sky become a spectacle, lit up in a series of bright colours to ring in 2023 with style.

Rotary supports many International and National causes and Mr Dishon said the New Year’s Eve Kid’s Street Party was one way of supporting the local community, particularly the children of the area.