Police are hoping crowds at this year’s Groovin the Moo festival will be as well behaved as last year.
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Last year, police made no arrest relating to GTM crowds and praised their behavior.
Sergeant Tony Kekich said GTM in Bendigo was always a good event for police.
“We have had minimal trouble there over the nine years it has been running,” he said.
“The crowd is really well behaved and it seems quite clear that people just want to have a good time.
“You may get the odd drunk causing trouble but in the last two years we had no arrests (at GTM).”
Sergeant Kekich said credit went to the organisers fore creating such a well-managed event.
“It certainly is attributed to organisers as well as police. They work with stakeholders to bring the safest event possible,” he said.
“There is plenty of staff there help out as well as the police helping out.
“We are not expecting anything different other years. Genreally, it is a really well-behaved crowd.”
Police are expected to have a number of officers at the Bendigo railway station as crowds from Melbourne arrive and leave on Saturday.
“We not only patrol the event but also the route from the station,” Sergeant Kekich said.
“Major liquor outlets are notified of event and they are pro-active in monitoring minors trying to buy alcohol.
“For people who go there, safety should be the number one priority. We help to look after safety but (people’s own) safety is up to them. That goes a long way to ensuring have a good event.”
Sergeant Kekich said crowds should look after their mates as well as themselves.
“Make sure if you or a mate is feeling the pinch, whether its alcohol-related or whatever, look after them,” he said.
“Stay safe and enjoy the event. There is free water available, so drink plenty of water and keep hydrated. That goes a long way to keeping safe.”
headspace will be one of the many community groups helping out at Groovin the Moo.
In Bendigo, the friendly team at the headspace helpdesk will assist festival crowds with free water, lost and found, phone charging, sunscreen, taking photos and providing festival information.
Groovin the Moo is on Saturday, May 6, at Prince of Wales Showground, Holmes Road, Bendigo.