Sheep Hills silo art

Twenty of us gathered together in 12 motorhomes for the first time to visit the painted silos in the Wimmera Region. We met up at Charlton, Victoria, and had a get-together where Peter and myself shared our plans and presented fellow travellers a ‘rally bag’. Dinner at a local hotel gave us an opportunity to get to know everyone. We spent the next day in the town and were given a tour through the Rex Theatre and the local museum, which was very interesting, and we (of course) had a ‘happy hour ‘later on.

TOP SILO STOPS

First stop was Rupanyup to see the silo there. It was painted by the talented Russian Artist Julia Volchkova. The people in the painting were a 16-year-old local footballer Jordan Weidemann, and Ebony Baker, a 25-year-old local netball player. Then, we admired the mural painted on a former council building. We visited the Woods Collection just down the road to view some of the most  interesting collections we had ever seen. I think the biggest was a collection of tins: there must have been simply hundreds of them.

There was also a huge collection of washing machines and sewing machines and tools. There were also quite a few clothes from the early pioneer days. It is really worth a visit if you are ever heading up that way.

Next stop was the lovely painted silo at Sheep Hills painted by Matt Adnate, of Indigenous elders, Ron Marks and Regina Hood, along with nine-year-old Curly McDonald and two-year-old Savannah Marks. Then it was onto Warracknabeal for a couple of nights. There are quite a few interesting things to see there. We had turns being photographed in the old ‘lock up” and enjoyed lunch in town at a hotel. A few statues in the centre of the town of sheep, kelpies and wool bales were really worth a look, too.

On Friday, we headed to Brim to the silos there. Painted by Guido van Helten, these 30-metre high works are amazing. Apparently, the artist did not want to reveal the  names of the people in his painting. The Brim community put $10,000 towards the project along with the Yarriambiack Shire and Regional Arts Victoria.

Then it was on to Rosebery where silos were in the process of being painted by artist Kaff Eine, although the artist was having a few days off.

The 30-metre high Brim silos

LAKE LASCELLES

We then went to Hopetoun to camp at Lake Lascelles. We thought it would be a tad hard trying to fit in 12 motorhomes together as it was busy but we managed. Another happy hour and a funny game of pass the parcel where someone who shall remain nameless ‘cheated’ by holding onto it until the music stopped. Naughty, you are.

Hopetoun is a lovely place to stay and you can camp right beside the lake. You can also fish from almost out your front door.

We also saw some interesting statues around the town.

Saturday was a windy day so not much was achieved. But in the evening we managed to get together for another happy hour; it is so nice to make the time to catch up.

Sunday we headed to the silos at Patchewollock painted by Fintan Magee who is from Brisbane. The man in the painting is Nick Hulland. We took a group photo at Patchewollock near the famed corrugated iron statues of the mallee fowl. After spending time there we set off for the Lascelles silos, the first was painted by Tyrone (Rone) Wright from Melbourne and depicts Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, whose families have farmed the area for four generations. They married in 1967 and remain in the area today. Lascelles has a population of just 48 people. We took a group photo of the motorhomes and then set off for Woomelang staying at Cronomby Tanks. A lady called in to say the op shop was open until 3pm, so a scattering followed her there. You would not think an op shop would be so popular but it certainly was. Gee, we certainly bought some bargains there. I booked dinner at the local hotel and we had a really great time there. The people were so welcoming. We hosted a quiz for our group and walked back to our motorhomes for the night.

Rupanyup silos, painted by Russian artist Julia Volchkova

Next stop was Lake Tyrell, but the conditions weren’t right so we met up in Sea Lake where a few members opted to head off in different directions. Now just for rigs, our convoy headed to Nyah West to the camp there on the river, where we again had a happy hour.

DAWDLING HOME

On the Tuesday, one more left us to head home for Buderim, Queensland. The three remaining groups then drove into Swan Hill where we managed to find a good car park and enjoy lunch at the RSL. We did a small shop and headed off to Cohuna. It is a lovely place to free camp there, you are right beside the river that runs through the town. We found another op shop there. If you are ever up that way Cohuna is worth a visit; it has quite a few shops including a supermarket.

Next stop was the Rotary Park at Echuca. We found another lovely, bustling spot at the river edge, the Campaspe River. Lunch this time  was at the Moama RSL. The next day wandered around the Port. We then set off to Yarrawonga right beside the mighty Murray River. It is a lovely quiet and peaceful area to spend time. We spent two nights there then set off to the Ettamogah Pub at Table Top. We had dinner there and the next day had a look around the area and Lake Hume.

Patchewollock silos, painted by Fintan Magee

We left the other two motorhomes and drove to Temora, NSW, to visit friends there. We spent two nights there and drove through to Benalla meeting up again with the other two motorhomes. After a night by the lake, we drove to Seymour for more peace and quiet and water views.

Thursday, one party headed to Melbourne, with our now two-rig  convoy heading to Yarra Glen for lunch, where we bid our final farewells after having a wonderful time viewing the silos and making new friends.

The Silo Art Trail was a lovely trip to do. Our crew of 20 first met on Facebook on a motorhome site with many of us hailing from eastern states. We ourselves live near the Dandenong Ranges, other Victorians were from Richmond, Coronet Bay, Metung, Wesburn, Traralgon, Geelong. Interstate travellers hailed from Tailem Bend, SA, Newcastle, NSW, and Buderim in QLD and two were permanently travelling.

They were a great friendly group of people and it was a joy travelling together.

The image of local farmer Merrilyn Horman adorns the Lascelles silo

RONE’S LATEST WORK

Further south, internationally renowned, Victorian street artist Rone, has recently completed his latest project on the cement silos, overlooking Gen Fyansford - a new project in Geelong.

The developers of Gen Fyansford, ICD Property and Supalai Public Company Limited, engaged the globally-recognised, Geelong-born artist to transform the silos with portraits of three local community members.

The local figures who were immortalised on the silos include the direct descendant of the queen of the Wadawurrung, Corrina Eccles; 78-year-old widower Cor Horsten, who worked for the Cement Works site for more than 35 years; and Paralympic dual gold-medallist Kelly Cartwright OAM. 

A viewing platform has been opened to the public, accessible from the Hyland Street pedestrian footpath.

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Written: Thu 01 Mar 2018
Printed: March, 2018
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