Critters and crafts at community garden

For many years, Aireys Inlet has hosted an open-air art event on the Australia Day long weekend to provide a venue for local artists and crafts people to showcase their works in an intimate community setting.

Last year, the event relocated to the Aireys Inlet Community Garden 3231, providing an opportunity for stallholders and visitors to share the unique space and enjoy the work on offer.

Volunteers from the community garden and the Surf Coast Arts group worked together to bring the event to life.

Aireys Inlet Community Garden co-ordinator Gretel Lamont saw that visitors were amazed at the variety and scale of the initiative.

“So many regular visitors to the Surf Coast had no idea we existed and were happy to have found us to enjoy the garden and the art and crafts too.”

The 2017 Art in the Garden was such a great success that it will be held again this year on Saturday, January 27 from 10am until 3pm at the Aireys Inlet Community Garden.

Local artist Caroline Lawrey said there would be stalls with a range of visual art, photography, crafts, beautiful jewelry, children’s art activities, local musicians and a community garden stall.

“The wealth of talent and creativity on show is amazing and being able to share our passion with others in such a beautiful setting is very rewarding.

“An amazing 91-year-old participant who epitomises the role of a community, Betty Watson, makes soft toys for the children’s hospital as a means of fundraising and providing comfort to the children.

“She suffered some illness last year but