The long-awaited Cobram Community Cinema project is under way with a sod-turning ceremony taking place last Friday afternoon.
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The ceremony was attended by student representatives from Cobram Secondary College and Cobram Anglican Grammar School, a number of local politicians including Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum and figures from other groups assisting with the project.
Cobram Secondary College school captain Ellie Jones broke the ground at the site along with Mr Drum, and spoke as part of the ceremony.
“It is really exciting to be here,” she said.
“I think for a lot of us, we thought this was one of those intangible projects.
“To be here today and to have the support of our entire community is phenomenal.
“I can't thank everyone in this community and state and federal members and council for helping us enough to achieve this.”
Rob Morey is the figurehead behind the project, which will turn Cobram Masonic Lodge into a twin-cinema complex. He admitted he was moved to see so many people turn out in support of the project, which he felt was emblematic of the youth of Cobram.
“It's an absolutely magnificent day,” Mr Morey said.
“You couldn't ask for a better day, you couldn't ask for a better turnout and we really appreciate the positive support from everyone towards the cinema.
“I am really excited; I stood out the back and I blamed the sun but there was a tear in the corner of my eye.
“I am very proud of our young people and I was impressed with the way Ellie spoke and the way they have driven the project.
“It has been a real privilege for me to be able to support the young people of Cobram to gain their objective — I couldn't be happier.”
The project has generated more than $1 million in investment through various means including government funding.
Mr Morey said the work would go on regardless, however, he was still seeking about $250,000 to complete the project.
“Hopefully we will start this week and away we go,” he said.
“We are a little bit short of funds but I think once we start, people will come along and think this is a good project to get behind.
“If there is someone with $250,000 in town and wants to get rid of it, I know the perfect spot for it.”
The Federal Government has contributed $500,000 towards the project and Mr Drum believes it is a perfect example of a community-enriching project.
“I couldn't think of a better project than wanting to build a movie theatre,” Mr Drum said.
“Growing up on the outskirts of Shepp, we always had a movie theatre and to think it has been seven or eight years since a fire burnt down the theatre (in Cobram).
“Here there is a band of young kids who are working with Rob to make it happen and when the opportunity (for the Federal Government) to push money sideways (to support the project) we took it.”
Mr Drum lamented the lack of direct investment from the state government, and said there appeared to be one rule for the city and another for the country.
“There is a horrible trend that is happening in regional Victoria where the state government isn't spending any money while they are spending tens of millions of dollars on projects in Melbourne,” Mr Drum said.
“The Andrews Government has turned its back on regional Victoria and there is no better project to signify this than the Cobram theatre project. It is effectively being run by adolescents with a bit of help from Rob Morey, who have been brilliant, but ultimately what a project for a government to get behind — but it has got nothing from Daniel Andrews and the Labor government.”
People wishing to contribute toward the project can visit the GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/f/aehh5-cobram-community-cinema
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