Wednesday, 19 February 2020

Montsalvat bushfires fundraising exhibition

Ms WARD: Thank you to Montsalvat and local artists for the recent exhibition held in support of the Victorian Bushfire Appeal, with funds managed by the community arm of Bendigo Bank. At the opening we were privileged to hear from Malcolm Hackett, OAM, who is the chair of the board of volunteer directors who manage our local Bendigo Bank community bank branches in Eltham, Diamond Creek, Hurstbridge, Doreen/Mernda and Kinglake, about his own experience of bushfire.

These wonderful and talented local and regional artists helped raise over $12 000 in the first days of opening, with $10 000 just at the event alone. Special thanks also to artist Karen Hopkins for suggesting the fundraiser exhibition and the amazing team of staff and volunteers at Montsalvat, who worked tirelessly to get this exhibition together in such a short space of time. I am especially pleased with my purchase of a beautiful painting of the Yarra by Eltham artist Kate Cross. The exhibition is on until 6 March—go check it out.