A fifth-generation Queenscliff resident will continue his family’s legacy of helping enhance children’s lives through a Sea and Wood exhibition.
Darren Allbutt will host the art, sculpture and woodwork exhibition fundraiser at Cottage by the Sea from November 16 to 17, with all sale proceeds supporting programs for young people.
Mr Allbutt said his family had a strong connection with the children’s charity as his grandmother volunteered there for many years.
His mother also received rehabilitation at Cottage by the Sea after being diagnosed with poliovirus (an infectious disease affecting the nervous system) when she was four.
“I see Cottage by the Sea as a gift to us all and I needed to do my bit to raise money and highlight the importance of the place in Queenscliff,” he said.
“Some children have never been to the beach, which in my eyes is a huge concept I used to find hard to grasp so that sunk in a bit over the years.
“A lot of the items have stories that are linked to the town as there’s bits of driftwood and things I’ve scavenged over the years which have been turned into sculptures, keepsakes and paintings.”
Cottage by the Sea chief executive Adam Wake said the exhibition was a “testament to the power of community”, one of the charity’s values.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the enduring work of Darren’s family while raising much-needed funds for our programs,” he said.
“We have such strong ties to the Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale community, sharing the same waters and rich history steeped into the land, and so many of our supporters hail from this region.”
