17/03/2026
In February this year, the FoG Inc Committee were informed by the CoGG that we had been successful in our grant application modifying the FoG studio in the CoGG’s Drysdale Community Hub.!!
The CoGG 2025-2026 Community Infrastructure Grant will now allow the construction of the first regional community Flamework Glass Facility for hobbyists, artists and FoG.
It all began on the 7th of January 2019, our then Secretary, Patrick Hughes, sent a letter to CoGG Cllr. Bruce Harwood, on behalf of the Festival of Glass. He advised “we believe that the preschool building due for demolition could be reworked into a fabulous asset to the community - a North Bellarine art and culture ‘hub”
Lengthy and constructive dialogue continued with our local, state and federal government representatives. During this period, at the invitation of the CoGG, we joined the “Eversley St Reference Group”.
The outcome is the establishment of the current Drysdale Community Hub, which we share with the Drysdale Senior Citizens. Since 2019, the main objective of the Festival of Glass Committees has been to equip the FoG Studio for ‘Flamework’ as well as other Glass Art offerings.
Unfortunately, the funds allocated for the renovation of the Drysdale Community Hub were exhausted, and the FoG studio could not be equipped with the necessary Flamework infrastructure. However, the minutes from the Eversley St Project Reference Group dated 22 April 2021 acknowledged “a commitment from CoGG to identify additional grant funding” to incorporate the necessary Framework Infrastructure in the future.
Our first Drysdale Community Hub Stakeholders meeting was held on the 25 January 2022, and many past and present FoG Inc members have since worked tirelessly to raise the necessary funds to incorporate a Flamework Glass Blowing Programme into the Festival of Glass Studio.
Now that it’s about to come to fruition,the FoG committee will work with the CoGG project manager to understand the impact on our current workshop programs and the timing for decanting of our affected equipment and materials.
As we navigate this exciting time, we will keep you posted on timelines and progress photos.
The President Mercedes Drummond and Vice President Paul Chreszczyk attended the Grant celebration on 12 March and received congratulations from Councillor Elise Wilkinson and Mayor Stretch Kontelj.
Now the hard work begins and the FoG executive will be working closely with CoGG to ensure this fabulous addition to our studio becomes a reality.
