By Cameron Weston
A FUNDRAISER for this year’s Williamstown Festival will also help farmers in north-east Victoria struggling to make ends meet during the drought.
A special screening of the feature film Notes On A Scandal, starring Australia’s Cate Blanchett, will be held tomorrow night to raise much-needed funds for the 30th anniversary of the popular local festival.
But this year, a percentage of the money raised will be heading to Hobsons Bay sister municipality Buloke Shire to help out with drought relief.
The Sun Theatre in Yarraville, which contributes to the festival every year by holding the popular outdoor cinema in Commonwealth Reserve, will host the event.
Hobsons Bay City Council established closer ties with Buloke Shire last year, and has initiated several projects with the rural municipality.
Festival director Fleur Arnold said the special screening and fundraiser were part of a push to create a unique atmosphere during the month of March.
“We want to create a month-long celebration for the (Williamstown) festival,” she said.
“There is the Art Prize, the Art in Public Places Exhibition, so we are really trying to create an exciting atmosphere for the entire month.”
Ms Arnold said combining the two events was the perfect way to build on the sister-municipality relationship while raising much-needed funds for a local event.
“It’s a really good cause. It supports a good local community cause and helps families struggling through the drought out at the same time.”
“Notes On A Scandal is also a really good movie,” she said.
Festival president Rod Page said organisers were happy to broaden the fundraising effort to help the people of Buloke Shire.
“The whole idea is to make local people aware of the fact that there are other areas of Victoria, including one that our council has a relationship with, that are really effected by the drought.
“Come along, have a night at the pictures and help out people affected by the drought in the country.”
Mr Page said $4 from every $20 made at the event would go to Buloke Shire.
The special screening of Notes On A Scandal will be held in the Grand Theatre of the Sun Theatre, 8 Ballarat Street, Yarraville, on Wednesday, 7 March, from 6pm.
For more information or to book a seat call 9397 1352 or email f.arnold@williamstownfestival.com.au
The fourth and final instalment of Kirsty Ross’ Buloke feature series is on Page 6.
