General News
23 August, 2022
Phoenix Project success continues
COBDEN’S ‘The Phoenix Project’ came about as a way to reconnect the community after the St Pat’s Day fires and continues to support residents.
COBDEN’S ‘The Phoenix Project’ came about as a way to reconnect the community after the St Pat’s Day fires and continues to support residents.
The initiative received a nomination in the Victoria Awards Australia Community Group Award category.
The brainchild of Chelsea Hatherall, the inaugural program resulted in a successful series of live music, film nights, creative workshops and markets.
Moving forward, Phoenix Project has continued to use creativity as the catalyst for social connection, aiming to empower emerging artists and advocate for creative expression while providing a platform for strengthening connection within our region.
Ms Hatherall said she was surprised to receive the nomination after the last couple of years with COVID impacting the initiative.
“We’ve had a bit of skeleton program,”she said.
“We’ve been running life drawing classes, movies and paint and sips which havebeen popular."
“We’re just about to launch the Spring program.”
The classes, workshops and movies have largely run from the Curdie Street location, which was Cobden’s first Community Hall and picture theatre, located beside theCobden Bakery.
Ms Hatherall said the next event will be on October 15 with a screening of the newElvis film.
She is looking forward to seeing how the Phoenix Project grows going into the future.
“I’m happy the snap lockdowns are finished,” Ms Hatherall said.
“I’m starting to get my confidence back."
“We’re looking forward to the future.”
The Community Achievement Awards began in 2002 as the Regional Achievement and Community Awards and are designed to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions which individuals, communities and businesses make throughout regional and rural Victoria.
The awards aim to recognise their success and achievements, which contribute to making regional Victoria a better place.
All nominees and finalists receive a letter of congratulations and a certificate of encouragement for their nomination.
Finalists will be presented and winners announced at an Awards Gala Presentation Dinner on Friday, November 11.