By Ewen McRae
Melton council will contribute $10,000 towards the Diggers Rest Carols by Candlelight.
The funds will be an annual and recurrent contribution towards the event, which has received council funding for the past two years.
Held at the Diggers Rest Primary School, the carols night attracted 500 attendees in 2017, and increased to 700 for last year’s event.
The Diggers Rest Lions Club has taken on the management of the event. In July the club wrote to the mayor to request additional funding in order to further grow the event.
The Lions Club’s letter stated the event is expected to cost about $13,000, and will continue to be held at the primary school.
A notice of motion by councillor Michelle Mendes at last week’s council meeting requested $2500 to fund the event, however an amended motion committed to the increased cash.
A Facebook post from the Lions Club thanked the council for the ongoing funding, and stated “the sponsorship of events such as our carols night are essential for facilitating a sense of pride and belonging amongst members of our community”.
The Carols by Candlelight is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11.
