Warrnambool Triton Woodworkers, a group of about 45 members, supported the festival for 19 years, preparing ready-to-make wooden toy kits during the event.

Club president Len Byron said the festival’s demise was disappointing because members had been making the kits for children to turn into wooden keepsakes like pencil cases, cars and planes.

“We were doing about 9000 kits at one stage,” he said. “We’d get a semi-trailer of timber dropped off and we’d cut it into pieces. Last year we did 6000.

“The boys looked forward to it because when we come to it after holidays at Christmas it’s bang on. 

“The timber is here and away we go. Probably right through to June, three afternoons a week.

“It’s full steam in here, it’s like a conveyor belt.”

Mr Byron said volunteers contributed about 3500 hours.

He said volunteers at the Archie Graham also helped with bagging nails for the kits.

The group received payment for its work at the festival, which was used to pay rent on its Rooneys Road shed.

Warrnambool City Council, which ended the festival, said the group would not be caught short.

“The woodworkers have been invited every school holiday period to continue their great work at Flagstaff Hill,” the city’s visitor economy manager David McMahon said.

“They were our number one priority when we had to make the decision. They will be paid the same amount of money as they were for the festival as we didn’t want to see them not able to pay their rent. They have had great involvement and we wanted to look after them.”

Club secretary Louis Seater said the decision was a blow for the group which did not receive government assistance.

He said volunteers gained a lot of satisfaction showing children new skills.

“It was just the look on their face when they made something,” he said. “It was great. We’re mostly all retired and at the top end of 70. And it’s really just old people who enjoy being with little kids.”