Bad blazes inspire firefighter to help AFTER living through the terrifying blazes of late 2019, Edithvale firefighter Alison van den Dungen decided to make a difference. Ms van den Dungen was in East Gippsland during the 2019 fire season. She was urged to evacuate, and watched as the situation worsened. “Over the next few weeks, I was watching what was happening on fire grounds across Australia and I just knew I had to do something,” she said. “I didn’t want to go through another fire season thinking here I am, perfectly capable with the right skills to be able to put my hand up and am not doing what I can to help.” After the experience of being so close to the danger, Ms van den Dungen signed up for the Edithvale CFA. “I was welcomed with open arms from the moment I walked in,” she said. “Edithvale brigade is quickly becoming a family to me. “I was excited to put my hand up for it – I was new to the CFA world but was able to apply my everyday skills to this role and have become quite confident in it. I’ve helped the brigade organise community events like school visits, getting the truck to school fetes, as well as managing brigade social media channels and other outward-facing roles. No matter what your skillset is, the brigade will find a role suited to you.” To submit an expression of interest form for joining the CFA visit cfa.vic. gov.au/volunteer. ALISON van den Dungen in her CFA gear. Picture: Supplied
GALLERY TALK Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery is gearing up to launch our Spring Festival of Drawing – featuring a series of exhibitions focussed on drawing including expansive wall drawings by eleven contemporary Australian artists and a two week school holiday program for kids and adults. For the first time at MPRG, the gallery walls will be completely transformed by artists Penny Evans, Emily Floyd, Tony Garifalakis, Julia Gorman, Yuria Okamura, Jason Phu, Kerrie Poliness, Cameron Robbins, Gemma Smith, Lisa Waup and Jahnne Pasco-White. One of the artists, Cameron Robbins, has created a solar powered drawing instrument which draws graphite directly onto the gallery’s foyer wall. Inspired by the lunar eclipse, this wall drawing will accumulate each day, forming thousands of consecutive lines. Also, part of part of MPRG’s Spring Festival of Drawing is a new project called Collection+, that pairs newly commissioned work by leading artists represented in the MPRG Collection alongside international artists. Collection+ features new work by trailblazing artist Jess Johnson with one of the pioneers of the pop art movement Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.
Visit the MPRG website later this month or sign up to the Gallery’s e-newsletter to find out more about our Spring Festival of Drawing school holiday program. We have a range of programs for all ages, including a geometric line drawing in chalk with Kerrie Poliness and printmaking workshop with Emily Floyd and much, much, more. In September, families will be able to pick up our free ‘MY MPRG’ kids activity booklet designed by Melbourne artist, designer, and illustrator Beci Orpin. This activity book, aimed at primary school aged children will support a fun and engaging experience at the gallery. From home, you can also check out kids’ creative activities on our website, listen to a podcast with an MPRG-exhibited artist, or do a linocut workshop with renowned printmaker David Frazer. We hope to see you back in the Gallery soon. MPRG Gallery Director Danny Lacy
mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au Civic Reserve, Dunns Road, Mornington Ph 5950 1580 Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
18 August 2021
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