Vaucluse community fair organisers speak out over funding concerns for 2025 event

Organisers of a Sydney community fair say they are in a “Mexican standoff” with a local council over lack of funding to help keep the neighbourhood event afloat.

Organisers of a Sydney community fair say they are in a “Mexican standoff” with a local council over lack of funding to help keep the neighbourhood event afloat.

The Vaucluse Diamond Bay Precinct Neighbourhood Fair is facing the threat of not returning next year after organisers failed to secure enough grant funding from Waverley Council.

Organisers had applied for $4500 to stage the event at the Diamond Bay Bowling Club however were only able to secure $2500 as part of a council allocation of community grant funding.

Gabriel Pallo, an organiser of the fair, said the $2500 funding would “barely be able to cover the costs” of staging the event including venue hire fees.

“This year we ran the fair on the smell of an oily rag and we had a $2500 grant plus $1000 in donations and we just managed to break even,” he said.

A photo of last year’s fair.

“It costs a lot of money to put on – the hiring fees cost $1300 alone plus we hired a band, jumping castles and other entertainment.

“It was run entirely by volunteers and we said not willing to do it again unless we have adequate funding.”

Mr Pallo said the first event – held in March this year – attracted a crowd of around 700 people and relied on donors and volunteers to help keep costs at a minimum.

Without the council’s full support, Mr Pallo said the event was unlikely to make a return next year.

Organisers applied for grant funding from Waverley Council.

“It was a huge community event and surely the council’s priority should be to support local events that engender community spirit,” he said.

“The council isn’t coming on board. We had a Mexican standoff with the council and I’ve said to them, ‘if that’s your attitude we won’t be having another one next year’.”

A Waverley Council report assessing the funding application stated the $2500 recommended for funding was consistent with maintaining the event at a similar scale as this year’s event.

In a statement, a council spokesman said its small grants program, held twice annually, attracted a “high volume of applicants from local organisations and residents”.

“While we strive to support as many projects as possible, the limited funds available mean that not all applications can be fully funded,” a council spokesman said.

“We understand the disappointment of the Vaucluse Diamond Bay Precinct in not receiving their full funding request.

“Waverley Mayor, Cr Will Nemesh, has engaged in positive and productive discussions with Gabriel Pallo from the Precinct and remains supportive of their efforts to deliver the Neighbourhood Fair in 2025.

“Waverley Council deeply values the important contributions of all our precinct committees and looks forward to considering the Vaucluse Diamond Bay Precinct’s application in the next grant round scheduled for early 2025.”