Season starts HAMISH and Calum Donaldson working on the “metal rat’s” red and gold leaf base. Inset, the finished zodiac symbol for the Chinese Year of the rat. Pictures:Alice Blanch
Rat’s online creation to help wildlife CELEBRATIONS of the Chinese New Year have been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak and declaration of a global health emergency, but symbols that point towards a prosperous, healthy year are still eagerly sought. In keeping with the Year of the Rat, glassblowers at Red Hill have created a symbolic “metal rat” to be auctioned online, with some of the proceeds going to animals and the environment affected by bushfires.
The making of the glass rat over the Australia Day long weekend by Grant Donaldson, his wife Eileen Gordon and their sons Hamish and Calum was streamed live on Facebook. Ten per cent of profits made over the weekend went to the WWF Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund. The 21 centimetre long rat is 10cm high and sits atop a 30cm high 19cm by 19cm box. The hand-crafted work is covered in a metallic finish, in keeping with 2020 being the Year of
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the Metal Rat. “We’re always looking to challenge ourselves – and creating a rat out of glass certainly falls in that category,” said Eileen Gordon, whose family has owned Gordon Studio Glassblowers for 30 years. She said it had been “super exciting” to know that people from around the world were able to join the studio’s Chinese New Year celebrations and watch the rat being made. Bids in the blind auction closed
DAY TRIPS KERRISDALE RAILWAY Thu 19th Mar $80pp incl: BBQ Lunch MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SHOW Thu 26th Mar $70.pp incl: Entry EXTENDED TRIPS
midnight on Sunday 2 February. “Having the family together for such an exciting event is another great story in the history of this business – and this art form,” Grant Donaldson said. The family business spans three generations from Scotland and Norway, but Eileen Gordon and Grant Donaldson opened the Australian chapter in Numurkah in 1990. The business moved to Rosebud in 1994, and the Red Hill gallery and studio opened in 2004. Keith Platt
PENINSULA Chamber Musicians starts its eighth concert season playing Haydn’s Cello Concerto No 2 with Serbian born virtuoso Svetlana Bogosavljevic. Ingrid Martin, pictured, will return as guest conductor. Mark Fitzpatrick, principal trumpet with Orchestra Victoria along with David Macfarlane (harpsichord), Aaron Barnden (violin), Marney Pope (flute) and Michael Powell (oboe) will perform Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, Mozart’s Symphony No 21 and Haydn’s Overture to L’isola disabitata. Tickets for performances by Peninsula Chamber Musicians are $30 adults, $22 concession and primary and secondary students’ free and will be held 2pm Saturday 29 February at All Saints Anglican Church, Rosebud (www.trybooking.com/581121) and 2pm Sunday 1 March at Peninsula Community Theatre, Mornington (www.trybooking. com/581123).
Our new aquatic centre needs a name!
Door to Door Pick Up & Return Service
BALLARAT BEGONIA FESTIVAL 6 – 10 Mar 2020 $1299pp ($300s/s)
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OPERA IN THE ALPS 13 – 16 Mar 2020 $1485pp ($260s/s) ANZAC DAY IN CANBERRA 23 – 28 Apr 2020 $1495pp ($290s/s) FULLY ESCORTED TOURS 1300 274 880 (local call cost) Info@daytripper.com.au www.daytripper.com.au
Staying Connected Program SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO ARE 65+
For older people living in the Mornington Peninsula community, our social support volunteer program Staying Connected matches and coordinates volunteers who provide you with one-to-one social support. Our volunteers may provide home visiting, social outings or social support activities, and of course, a little fun, laughter and companionship along the way!
For more information, please
Phone Us
1300 558 368
contact@genu.org.au
Karingal St Laurence Limited ABN 74 614 366 031 | ACN 6014 366 031
Mornington Peninsula Shire invites community suggestions for the new facility name. These suggestions will be shortlisted by a naming panel and presented to Council for a final decision.
Your suggestion could help create a connection between the facility and Peninsula community through place, environment or spirit!
Find out more and make a suggestion by Monday 2 March: mornpen.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay
Southern Peninsula News
5 February 2020
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