Garden Village Resident Heather Chettle is the Secretary for the Port Macquarie Art & Craft Centre, Inc. which is newly located at the Oxley Vale Lifelong Learning Centre just around the corner from Garden Village between the Westport School and Douglas Vale Vineyard. Heather has been a member of the community group since 2003 and Secretary since 2012.
The Port Macquarie Arts and Crafts Centre Inc Faces of Port Macquarie Exhibition is on now.
We caught up with Heather and art show curator Peter Bentley to view their sketches and completed artworks at the Faces of Port Macquarie Art Exhibition which is showing at the historic Roto House until 5 May. All the artworks are of models posing at the Wednesday portrait class. Models receive $40 for 2 hours, in which time the artists create their portrait. Nine artists works are featured in the gallery at Roto House. A prize will be awarded for voting in the people’s choice!
Experience Home at Roto
When you visit the exhibition you can also experience The Cafe ‘Home at Roto’ in the grounds of the Historic Roto House. The cafe is nestled beside Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, surrounded by tall trees and birdlife with easy parking and seating to relax in nature.
Oxley Vale Lifelong Learning Centre
The Oxley Vale Lifelong Learning Centre is home to the Hastings Mens Shed and Port Macquarie Art & Craft Centre, Inc. The state government invested $3.4 million in the Oxley Vale Lifelong Learning Centre which offers a great venue for everyone interested in art and craftwork especially retirees on the Mid North Coast. The centre is open to everyone over the age of 18.
The brand new state of the art premises were architecturally designed by Chris Jenkins Design and offer a beautiful bright space for artists to connect, socialise and be creative in their chosen craft. New members of The Port Macquarie Arts and Craft Inc are welcome to join the groups which include weavers woodworkers, potters, artists, leatherworkers and lapidary artists.
“The Centre is a meeting place for people who are retired and want to do something creative that they‘ve always wanted to do in the company of others. It‘s all about good company and doing what we love,” said Heather.
What’s unique about the Art and Craft Centre is that it’s a real community where more experienced artists offer support and advice to emerging and new artists. People are available to offer advice and answer questions. Members pay $35 a year and $5 a day for the groups they wish to attend. Some members go to as many as three groups.
Share Your Volunteering Story
Heather is also Garden Village Library Volunteer and previously volunteered to edit and graphically design The Villager. Her father was also a resident of Garden Village and worked on The Villager which was printed originally on a Roneo machine. It’s now created with Canva and printed on Canon printers supplied by Colourworks Australia.
At Garden Village, we believe everyone has a unique story to tell about their volunteering experiences. National Volunteer Week 2024 recognises the diverse passions and talents everyone brings to volunteering. To celebrate Garden Village is sharing a series of stories from our people about what volunteering means to them. If you would like to be featured please email marketing@gardenvillage.com.au
- Send a photo of you volunteering
- Tell us how many years you have volunteered and where – this could be volunteering at Garden Village or for a local community organisation
- Share why you choose to volunteer and make a difference
Do you have a volunteering story to share? Email us today.
