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Newborough features on sculptured map

By City of Latrobe - 22nd March 2005 - Back to News

For migrant families in the Latrobe Valley, the memories of the passage from their homeland to Australia are still vivid, and have been fondly shared with friends and family over the years. Now, these memories have been turned into something tangible through a community project to mount a sculpture in Rutherglen Road, organised by the Newborough Village Traders Association (NVTA).

Project Officer for NVTA, Sonya Bramley, said that the project had been funded by Latrobe City Council and the NVTA, along with contributions from the Yallourn Bowling Club and members of the community.

"Local ornamental sculptor, Jim Lawrence, has created a large steel map of Australia, adorned with town and city names, flagpoles, native animals and an ornately detailed galleon. Newborough, of course, is on the map.

"As this is a community project, we hope that local migrant families will wish to be involved by purchasing a commemorative plaque, detailing their family name, date of arrival in Australia and name of the ship they travelled on. These plaques will be placed on the map, or, on a specially built dedication wall," Mrs Bramley explained.

According to the artist, there are a couple of finishing touches to be completed over the next five weeks.

"I will be creating the map of Tasmania, and several more representative sculptures for some of the towns marked on the map. For example, I will be creating a mining winding house to place on Broken Hill.

"Also, there will be family figures, around a metre high, standing in front of the map of the world, and the Australian flag," Mr Lawrence said.

"At a later stage, there will be a sea of blue flowers planted around the coastline, creating a living element to the work," Mr Lawrence added.

Councillor Tony Zimora explained that the project was both community-based and educational.

"It is hoped that once the sculpture project is completed, local children will be able to view the sculpture and learn more about the history of their region and the families that have made the Latrobe Valley their home," Cr Zimora concluded.

A display of the project will be held at 17 Rutherglen Road, Newborough at a later date, for members of the public to view. When all the pieces are completed they will be located in Rutherglen Road adjacent to the Post Office. For more information, or to purchase a family plaque, contact Sonya Bramley on 5127 4133.

Photo: Sculptor Jim Lawrence, Councillor Zimora, NVTA President Maureen Mumford and Project Officer Sonya Bramley admire pieces of the sculpture ‘From all the lands we came’.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com