UPDATE, Sunday, 5pm:
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Protester Robbie O'Brien does not want to have a COVID-19 vaccination, but he does want to keep his job.
Mr O'Brien said he shared a post from the private South West Stand Up Facebook group, but he was not an organiser of Sunday's rally against mandatory vaccinations for authorised workers.
Premier Dan Andrews announced on Friday that all of Victoria's 1.25 million authorised workers would have to have a coronavirus jab by October 15.
That has led to wide spread protests in Melbourne and across Victoria, as well as on social media.
There was a rally organised for Warrnambool at 1.30pm on Sunday at the civic green.
The organisers then posted that the protest had been called off, but just prior to the 1.30pm start rumours swept the city the rally was back on.
A large police presence put off protesters gathering at the civic green but about 100 people marched north up the Liebig Street footpath in pouring rain.
Mr O'Brien said he and a number of other people he knew, were visited by Warrnambool police officers on Sunday morning.
He said he was given information saying that he wasn't allowed to gather as that would be in breach of the Victorian chief health officer's COVID regulations.
The protester said he was told that outdoor gatherings could currently not be more than 10 people.
He said when he got to the civic green he told a police officer he knew that he was just there for a picnic with a couple of friends.
Mr O'Brien said he was warned that if he was asked to move on and did not that he would be fined.
"When I got there I said hello to a few people I knew," he said.
"It started raining and I got under the cover of a palm tree near the stand.
"Then when people started moving up the street and I followed."
Mr O'Brien said he had made a decision that he was not going to get vaccinated.
"I shouldn't have to have the jab, surely that's my choice," he said.
"People who get the vaccine can still get sick and they can still pass it on.
"It's my personal choice and I believe everyone should have that choice."
Mr O'Brien said the State Government was not sitting at present and he questioned how people could voice their opinion that it was their choice not to have the COVID-19 vaccination.
"The State Opposition can't even have their say. What chance do we have as individuals getting our voices heard?
"It's not going to make any difference if Robbie O'Brien doesn't have a vaccination," he said.
It's understood that police made no arrests although there will be consideration given to issuing COVID fines.
At 2.17pm:
At least 100 people attended the rally against mandatory vaccinations in Warrnambool on Sunday.
There was some confusion about whether it would go ahead, with a post on the Facebook group Stand Up South West announcing it was cancelled.
Protesters carried signs saying 'Coercion is not consent' and 'Evil wins when good people do nothing' after walking up Liebig Street chanting 'my body, my choice'.
A number of people were not wearing masks.
A heavy police presence was at the Civic Green.
UPDATE, Sunday, 1.40pm:
A heavy police presence involving about 20 officers has put off protesters at a proposed rally on Sunday afternoon in Warrnambool.
About 20 officers were spread around the outskirts of the Warrnambool Civic Green, near the intersection of Timor and Liebig streets.
Warrnambool police Inspector Paul Marshall said planning had been in full swing since a rally was proposed on Saturday.
He said that planning continued despite Facebook posts suggesting the rally had been called off.
"We weren't sure if that post was misinformation, so we continued with the operation. We just didn't want to see a large gathering of people in Warrnambool at the present time," he said.
"We just wanted to nip in in the bud and stop people being given the opportunity to gather."
The police presence worked as only a handful of people turned out, coming to the green as individuals or in small groups.
Rain at 1.37pm also put a dampener on proceedings.
Rally organiser Robbie O'Brien did turn up and talked with police officers.
There was also a huge number of vehicles on surrounding roads at the proposed rally starting time of 1.30pm but people stayed in their vehicles and watched on.
At 1.15pm: There's a heavy police presence at the Warrnambool Civic Green to counter a proposed rally against mandatory vaccinations.
There's at least a dozen police officers and at least six police vehicles around the space near the intersection of Timor and Liebig streets.
There's only a handful of potential protesters.
Earlier: A planned protest against mandatory vaccinations for authorised workers has been called off in Warrnambool on Sunday.
The rally was being organised through private Facebook group Stand Up South West - which has more than 300 members.
There has now been a post saying the protest has been cancelled.
The post said: "Due to the alarming number of positive coronavirus cases in the vicinity of Warrnambool, the snap freedom rally against mandatory vaccinations (3/10/21 @1.30pm) has been cancelled.
"We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused".
The rally was organised after Premier Dan Andrews announced on Friday that 1.25 million authorised workers would have to have a COVID vaccination by October 15 or face losing their jobs.
That has led to widespread outrage from a minority of people who are against having the vaccination.
Authorised workers include religious leaders, members of parliament and essential workers unable to work from home.
There was a rally held in Melbourne on Saturday which led to a large number of arrests.
Warrnambool police have been organising a response to the Warrnambool gathering which had been planned to be held at the Civic Green and involve a march up Liebig Street.
Warrnambool Mayor Vicki Jellie has welcomed the decision to call off Sunday's rally.
"This is a very good decision," she said.
"This rally could have been catastrophic. It's very disappointing that people would consider attending a public gathering at this time.
"Everyone has the right to their own opinion, but in our current situation this could have been terrible.
"We have a great community and everyone is trying to do the right thing in very trying circumstances.
"Our health authorities have been doing an outstanding job.
"The decision to call off the rally in the current circumstance and is very sensible," she said.
Warrnambool currently has 20 cases of COVID after a woman returned from Melbourne when positive last week.
Police released a statement on Saturday saying they were aware of the planned protest activity at various locations across the state over the weekend, including Warrnambool.
"Police are well prepared to respond to any unlawful activity and will not hesitate to fine those in clear and blatant breach of the Chief Health Officer's directions," the statement said.
"Victoria Police will continue to have a highly visible presence to maintain public safety, and to ensure any illegal protest activity does not impact on the broader community's right to go about their daily lives."
Comment is being sought from Warrnambool police Acting Senior Sergeant Jason Dance, who is in charge of the Warrnambool police operation.
It is expected that local police will not make a comment.
Efforts have also been made to contact rally organiser Robert O'Brien.
It is expected that a small number of people will still show up at the rally point because of their strong views.
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