The annual Holbrook B&S ball has been cancelled, throwing the New Year’s Eve plans of hundreds of people into disarray.
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Organisers posted a Facebook message on Thursday night, confirming the ball would not go ahead.
“As many of you have guessed by now, the Holbrook NYE B&S Ball is not running this year 2017-2018,” the post read.
“The decision wasn't taken lightly as many charity groups rely on the money generated for the community.
“There was certainly a number of factors involved in the committee not running the event this year. We thank you all for coming to Holbrook over the years, and hope you have enjoyed our event as much as we have had running it for you.”
More than 280 people replied to the post, sharing it with friends and expressing disappointment that the event had been cancelled.
One of the B&S organisers Debbie Mills said the B&S had been cancelled because of a lack of support from volunteers needed to organise the event.
“Volunteers are hard to come by,” she said.
“No one will step up and do some of the organising.
“They all want it, but no one wants to help organise it.”
Ms Mills said she had been involved with the Holbrook B&S for 12 years, and most of the organisation was done by just a small committee.
“We put the call out,and there have been some good people, but every committee is the same people over and over again.
“We can’t keep doing it. We can’t keep going around time and time again.”
Ms Mills said thousands of dollars had been raised by the B&S and ploughed back into local organisations.
“That also disappoints me. Groups ring and say they want to be put on our donation list, but they don’t want to help out with organising,”
Rita Bowler, who is also on the committee, said there had been “a little bit” of disappointment from organisations that would have expected donations from the proceeds of the B&S.
Holbrook businesses that would have expected to sell food, drink and other supplies for the event would also not been called on for sales this year.
“It just can’t be helped,” Ms Bowler said.
“A lot of us on the committee have other commitments this year.
“As to what happens next year, who knows.”
