DISAPPOINTMENT ensued following the shock last minute cancellation of Hamilton Rotary’s free New Year’s Eve Family Party that was to be held at the Hamilton Showgrounds on Sunday night.

However, Southern Grampians Shire Council’s (SGSC) fireworks display was still held delighting hundreds who turned out to the boundary fence of the Hamilton Showgrounds at 10pm on the dot.

However, many took to social media to express their frustration at not being able to ring in the new leap year at the family event that included free rides and activities with some deciding to make the trek out of town to either Warrnambool, Port Fairy, or Portland to join in on their respective festivities.

“Families were truly looking forward to this event,” was one comment on social media.

“This is why people leave and go to other places,” said another.

“If other shires can pull together with their local clubs and businesses and organise smashing NYE events, then why can't we?” one said.

Hamilton Rotary cancelled the event late Thursday afternoon, it said, due to risk management assessment and public liability insurance.

“What if we bind everyone in bubble wrap, would that help?” said one disgruntled person on Facebook.

“Insurance again, how disappointing after all the work Rotary have put in - thanks for trying,” said another.

“What a joke - welcome to our new world of ‘cancel culture’ where common sense is no longer common and a beautiful family fun event needs risk mgt & public liability to go ahead… what’s to become of us?” said yet another.

On its Facebook page, SGSC said council shared in the disappointment of the community at the cancellation of the much-anticipated family event.

The cancellation also meant that no public access to the showgrounds would be allowed thus meaning viewing of the fireworks was limited to outside the boundary fence of the showgrounds.

It said, “the unfortunate but necessary, cancellation by Rotary of their New Year’s Eve Family Party (on Thursday), which was to provide essential public safety measures, means there will be no public access to the showgrounds.”

SGSC were contacted for further comment and said that all enquiries pertinent to the cancellation of the family event be directed to Rotary Hamilton.