THE masterplan for Crossley’s St Brigid’s Church redevelopment into an Australian-Irish Cultural Heritage Centre has been unveiled to praise from the community.
While the church will still be used for weddings and funerals, the Friends of St Brigid’s has used a $30,000 state government grant to engage consultants and prepare a business plan, concept design and feasibility study for the cultural centre.
Revealed in a special ceremony on Thursday night, the group’s plans were met with positive feedback from about 80 local residents and community leaders, according to secretary Teresa O’Brien.
“It was a fantastic night and a very successful launch of the new concept design,” she said.
“It’s a great feeling to wake up and know we reached one of our key goals to get the design and plan of the centre done for the next thee years.
“Now we’re ready for the real work to begin.
“We had lots of local people interested in the plan setup and looking at what it will be like as a cultural centre.
“A lot of people were surprised how effective it was, being able to look at the display and imagine what it might be like.
“I feel like we have reached a major milestone.
“We finished the night toasting to St Brigid’s with a warm whiskey, which is always good in south-west Victoria.”
Moyne Shire deputy mayor James Purcell and Warrnambool mayor Jacinta Ermacora attended the launch, along with a representative from the Irish ambassador’s office, Pacific Hydro, SED Consulting and other groups who had funded the Friends of St Brigid’s.
j.pech@standard.fairfax.com.au
