Magic to return to Anglesea

Anglesea Men’s Shed members Greg Packham, rear left, Alastair Duke and Tonnie Van Der Horst and Anglesea Community House’s Ange Collins with the street library, and Bodhi and Zelia with a unicorn ready for painting. (Supplied)

A rundown street library structure will soon be able to capture imaginations across the Anglesea community thanks to a renewal project.

The Little Hands and Skilled Hands project will combine designs by pre-school children with the cabinetry skills of Men’s Shed members under Anglesea Community House’s lead.

Anglesea Community House community development coordinator Ange Collins said the finished library cabinet will offer free books for all ages within the community.

“The kids are designing it, and the Men’s Shed members are bringing it to life,” she said.

“A theme appeared to be unicorns, and now we have two waist-high cut-out unicorns which will be painted by the children and go on the sides of the cabinet, and the children’s handprints will be all across the top of the cabinet.”

Anglesea Community House received a $840 community grant from Surf Coast Shire Council for the project, and was one of 34 grants received during council’s latest community grants presentation.

Deputy mayor Tony Phelps said council encouraged and supported community organisations that were taking the lead on projects and initiatives across the region.

“Our community grants presentation celebration is always such a positive event, shining a light on so much great and diverse work going on in our community,” he said.

“Empowering communities to meet their own needs and goals is a wellbeing objective in our Council Plan, and it’s encouraging to see several recipients focusing on mental health.”