Moorabool News The
EMAIL: news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Tuesday 1 June, 2021
Your Local News
Serving Ballan and district since 1872
FREE
Member of
WEB: www.themooraboolnews.com.au
Phone 5368 1966
Vol 15 No 21
Birds of a feather By Helen Tatchell and Bianca Roberts
Photo – Helen Tatchell
EUREKA Garages & Sheds
Look around and look up, you will be pleasantly surprised as to what you will see as the winter Wombats come to town. This time, it is the largest community art installation on display in Ballan from June through to September and, will showcase ‘Birds in Ballan’. The Wombat Regional Arts Network members have been knitting, crocheting, drawing, photographing, and designing the streetscape whilst organizing events related to everything with feathers. The talent of members shines through their art with colourful displays along two-blocks of the main street; the purpose to encourage visitors to put on a hat and coat during winter and walk the streets with family and friends, exploring the outdoor art. Birds in Ballan is proposed to launch this Saturday 5 June with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, followed by a movie for the kids, Rio. Tammy Gilson is a Gordon Wadawurrung woman and told the Moorabool News the ceremony is all about “acknowledging our ancestors and our creator spirit”. “‘In Wadawurrung culture, the birds are really significant because they represent Bunjil, our creature spirit and Waa the Crow, which are our two totems,” she said. “Every type of bird has a different meaning and a story behind it. They sing language, the birds, which people don’t realise.” A Birds of Prey event will take place in July; a concert - Birds in Music, a Bird Walk and Talk in August, concluding with an Arts Market, Devonshire Tea and a Moorabool young Artists Exhibition in September. Carmel Hunter is a long-time member of the group and said they are just a group of volunteers who have a passion for Ballan. “Ballan is dull and dreary during winter, the brightness of the event will cheer you up, it is also an educational experience,” she said. “Visitors can expect to see at least four mannequins, placed in local businesses, and we have very large corflutes of birds, photographed by local man David Whelan. These will be placed on the sides of the rubbish bins, like the Christmas ones last year.” Bird cages are around the town with surprise visitors inside and, four local primary schools will have their own displays. The Ballan Post Office pillars will have an eagle with words for Welcome to Country on them and you cannot forget a colouring competition for the kids. For further information and bookings – www.wombatarts. org The volunteer group have been responsible for past art events that included, Black Nite Black Lite (2017/2018), Winterknits (2019/2020) and Christmas decorations every year.
For all your Domestic Shedding, Farming and Industrial Structures
BEST by a Country Mile!
Quality Structures at Affordable Prices - Contact John Hoffman for more details - 202 Learmonth Street, Ballarat. Ph: (03) 5336 2227 – Fax (03) 5336 2557 Email: ballarat@eurekagarages.com.au