Community generosity secures etching press

THE Sunday Printmakers group have been blown away by the generosity of the community, after they doubled their fundraising target for a second-hand etching press.

The local group put a call out to the community asking for help to raise $2,000 to purchase the press, with donations from $10 up to $2,000 quickly flowing in.

Sunday Printmakers member Vicki Strachan said the group was not expecting such an immediate response and was grateful for the support.

“We had a very positive response from not only the printmaking community, but the broader community,” she said.

“We actually raised most of the money within 48 hours of the promotion, so we were really excited.”

The final fundraising tally came in at $4,000 thanks to an anonymous donation of $2,000, which the group will use to expand printmaking opportunities in the community.

“We’re hoping with the very generous donation we received, to further printmaking on the Bellarine; that we can invite some fantastic printmakers to come visit Barwon Heads, to demonstrate to local printmakers.

“That donation will allow us to subsidise those demonstrations, to make those demonstrations more affordable and accessible for our printmaking community.”

The Barwon Heads Arts Council will take possession of the press for the benefit of the community with plans to induct local printmakers to the machine.

“We’re just trying to learn how to use it first and for all the printmakers to understand and safely use the press,” Ms Strachan said.

“Hopefully in 2026, there will be more activity in the maker’s shed.

“It will certainly activate more activity and there will be a lot more get-togethers of artists.”

Public demonstrations of the press will take place throughout the Bellarine Arts Trail weekend on November 1 and November 2.