A last minute backflip by Brimbank council is too late to save the 83-year-old Keilor Gift.
The event’s organising committee president Hayden Kelly said Brimbank council offered to reinstate funding for the prestigious footrace last Thursday, two days after Star Weekly revealed the council had withdrawn 50 per cent of its funding for next year’s event, and further cuts were likely.
Mr Kelly said the council offered to restore funding if next year’s gift could go ahead as planned on February 11.
“But it’s too late – we’ve advised the athletics club, the wood chopper mob, sponsors – they’ve all moved on now,” he said.
Last week, Mr Kelly said the future of the event remains uncertain.
“To be frank, we’re contemplating whether [future] events will be worthwhile,” he said.
Keilor Gift organising committee secretary Malcolm Berg notified sponsors last Tuesday that February’s event had been cancelled.
He said Brimbank council informed the committee last month it had cut funding for the 2017 event.
“This was both unexpected and very late in the organising process for us to develop alternative funding plans, given the substantial reduction,” Mr Berg said.
He said an “unsatisfactory” meeting with the council’s leisure and community services team demonstrated council officers’ lack of awareness about the importance of the event for the Keilor community, and led the committee to call off next year’s gift and “reconsider holistically” its future.
“The funding reduction came unannounced,” Mr Berg said.
“It is clear to the committee that this decision was made without consideration of the history and nature of the Keilor Gift, and the community nature of the event.”
The Keilor Gift attracts some of the best sprinters in the country, and between 3000 and 5000 spectators. It is the first major race on the professional running circuit, and is used as a benchmark for many athletes.
Niddrie MP Ben Carroll said he was shocked to learn the race had been called off.
“Last February, it looked like it was going from strength to strength – it’s a real shock,” he said. “It’s a local institution, and it needs to be supported by government, the community and the private sector.”
Mr Carroll said he would contact the council to discuss having its funds restored.
Federal Calwell MP Maria Vamvakinou said she was concerned about the detrimental effect the event’s cancellation would have on the Keilor community.
“Events such as these … should be protected, especially when they are as successful as the Keilor Gift,” she said.
Brimbank council, in caretaker mode because of local government elections, would not comment.
