The last dance: RV Country Music Festival cancelled

Speaking with the Free Press, Mr Weeks said it was an enormously difficult decision, but one that had to be made for the wellbeing of the volunteer group.

“It was heartbreaking — really heartbreaking to say it out loud,” Mr Weeks said.

He said a combination of volunteer exhaustion, an ageing volunteer base and ongoing permit difficulties had overwhelmed the committee, forcing it to cancel the festival permanently.

“I am 84 years of age — I just cannot carry on. I’ve carried the burden of all of these hassles, trying to keep it out of other people’s hands,” he said.

The festival has been a cornerstone of Kyabram's event calendar since 2012, attracting hundreds of RVs to the showgrounds and injecting what Mr Weeks estimates as "upwards of a million dollars" into the local economy.

The festival coincides with the annual Spring Market, where local shop and café owners see a dramatic boost in customers, with visitors journeying from across Australia to this charming northern Victorian town.

Mr Weeks said without the festival, the Spring Market would suffer as a result.

“I know one person spent $1000, another $500 at this week’s Spring Market … it’s just going to have an effect right down the line,” he said.

Campaspe Shire Council’s director of communities Jo Bradshaw said council was surprised by the announcement and was not aware of the intent to cease the event.

“Council is disappointed by the cancellation of the RV Country Music Festival, which has been a valued event for our community and local businesses,” she said.

“While the announcement came as a surprise, we understand the challenges faced by volunteer-run events and the increasing complexity of regulatory requirements.

“Council has supported the festival over the years through financial and in-kind contributions and remains committed to working with event organisers to navigate compliance processes.”

She said council was dedicated to reducing the impact of the festival's cancellation by actively promoting Kyabram as a tourist destination and collaborating with local businesses and community groups to create new opportunities.

Jessica Mitchell, group leader of the Kyabram 1st Scouts, said she was “devastated” to hear about the cancellation of the event.

This year, like many years past, the Scouts have volunteered their time to run a stall at the festival, selling drinks and ice creams to attendees and raising money while doing so.

“It’s a huge loss for Kyabram,” Ms Mitchell said.

“(The festival) brings a great crowd and the Scouts have loved being involved each year — the youth get so much out of it.

She said she was disappointed, but she understood, coming from a volunteer organisation that relies on support from the community, that sometimes the effort and time did not pay off.

“I think there’s a deeper issue of the ongoing impacts to communities and how deep the volunteer burnout really is,” she said.

“We’re communities that run on volunteer support, and when we have organisations that no longer have people participating, it’s a huge impact.”

Despite being constantly busy throughout the festival, always zipping around the showgrounds in his golf buggy, Mr Weeks said the highlight was the wonderful people he had met over the past decade.

The stage has seen hundreds of talented artists come across it, with Mr Weeks naming Sandy Dodd, Lance Birrell and Vanessa Sanger as some of the finest.

Mr Weeks thanked all the volunteers and businesses who have supported the festival over the years and everyone who has come through the showgrounds gates for a bit of country music fun.

“I’ve met hundreds of people over the years and I thank everyone for the friendship and the co-operation of people,” he said.