From small beginnings come great things.

Take this weekend’s annual Art & Craft Exhibition and Sale in Tea Gardens.

The event has been held every year for over a quarter of a century, but the idea originated with a handful of women who met in a disused Army Hut in the middle of Hawks Nest Golf Course.

Back then, it was called the Hut Group and they held a small exhibition through the Christmas period to show off their creations and raise money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the Clinic Bus.

Fast forward to 2017 and the Art & Craft Exhibition and Sale is now held over three days and takes up three rooms in the Myall Community Art & Craft centre behind the Tourist Information Office just near the bridge.

All money raised still goes back into the community.

Secretary Sue Truscott said, “There are still four founding members involved in the current exhibition.”

Over the years, the group has donated a defibrillator to the Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Surf Club, put more lighting outside the Ambulance Station and still found money to go towards the Rescue Helicopter and Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Myall Coast News Of The Area is again proud to be sponsoring and supporting this great local annual event.

If books are more your passion, there is also the Rotary Club’s massive sale this weekend at the Hawks Nest Community Centre in Booner Street.

More than six thousand books are on sale, both fiction and nonfiction.

There is also a huge collection of CDs, DVDs, old LPs and tapes.

All proceeds go back into the community to support not-for-profit organisations such as the local Surf Club.

Both events are being held over three days from Friday 6 January through to Sunday 8 January.

By Margie TIERNEY