Resilience Project Series: Lyrebird Sculpture for Cann River
Project: Lyrebird Sculpture for Cann River
Funded amount: $31,050
Recipient: Tamboon Peachtree Association
Community: Cann River, Far East Gippsland, Victoria
For locals and Traditional Owners of Cann River in East Gippsland, the lyrebird has long been an emblem of the community, often spotted scratching and singing among the gullies and bushlands throughout the region. So when the disparate communities of this area were recovering from the 2019/20 bushfires, it made sense that the lyrebird motif should be immortalised as a sculpture that represents unity and strength.
With funding from a Fire to Flourish East Gippsland project led by Tamboon Peachtree Association, the Lyrebird Sculpture for Cann River is now a permanent attraction at Cann River Community Centre for everyone to admire.
Ernie Vare, the Vice President of Tamboon Peachtree Association, reiterates what this sculpture represents for community.
“It’s a sign of bush recovery that lyrebirds have returned to our area since the fires,” he told Fire to Flourish. “To everyone’s delight, and excitement from the local Indigenous population, the lyrebird is back, being the guardian and messenger of the bush. The sculpture symbolises that we have all come through the worst of it and, like the lyrebirds in our local bushlands, are strong again.”
“We felt that the lyrebird statue would promote feelings of great joy and achievement in town, being a physical symbol of recovery, and we also wanted to donate the sculpture to the town as a gift, a symbol of the resilience of its people, to help with healing following the bushfires,” he added.
“It’s also a thank you to the locals and Indigenous peoples, to say ‘You all did well, you fought the fires, you banded together and supported one another, and assisted in the recovery of the area, so thank you’.”
The Lyrebird Sculpture is made from salvaged steel farm machinery and equipment owned by local artist Neil Findley – an Orbost local who has worked in metal engineering for more than 30 years. Neil explained the inspiration behind the design.
“The main inspiration was that, a few weeks after the fires, I went for a walk through the bush. Everything was black, there was no greenery yet. But I could hear the sound of the lyrebird in the gullies. It just showed how resilient our native wildlife really is, to go through such devastation and still survive,” he said.
The installation of the sculpture was also an exercise in overcoming red tape for grassroots community projects, and required close collaboration between Fire to Flourish East Gippsland, Tamboon Peachtree Association and many community members and groups.
“It’s taken considerable time,” Ernie said, “between landowner and local representative approvals, locating land that wasn’t already run by external organisations, getting the signage and wording right, having the artwork created and, eventually, approval from the Shire. But thanks to Neil [the artist], the Tamboon Peachtree Association committee and some ‘vocal locals’, we have managed to finally get the statue in place.”
Ernie also highlighted the difficulty in finding a suitable funding source, with many of the local post-bushfire grants focused on bushfire rebuilds or immediate recovery, rather than resilience.
“Fire to Flourish was the right fit,” he said. “Firstly, we were all interested in the same outcomes – community involvement, wellbeing, positive recovery and resilience outcomes, and Indigenous approval. Secondly, the funding was the right amount for a community project. Last but definitely not least, the grant application was easy, fast and efficient.”
It is testament to the significant community effort invested in this public art installation that it has become a point of pride and interest for the region.
Tiffany Russell, Manager of the Cann River Community Centre, reiterates the success of the sculpture, situated on their front lawn, in bringing people together to see it.
“The community love where it is located,” she said. “It is embraced by all tourists who pass by and stop for a quick happy snap. The lyrebird brings in locals and tourists of all ages, it’s definitely an asset to the Cann River community.”
“We are always busy! The amount of people walking through the Community Centre door is phenomenal and sometimes doubles our usual daily foot traffic. We’re extremely lucky to have this beautiful artistic asset right at our doorstep.”
Ernie reiterated the added bonus of the sculpture-inspired boost in tourism.
“We expected a positive reaction from locals but the increase in tourism to the area was a big plus,” he said. “In turn, this helps local businesses, increases employment, and creates a bustling little town centre during holiday seasons.”
This Fire to Flourish-funded project is a great example of how investment in community-run public art can strengthen resilience by acting as a daily reminder and symbol of strength, and by drawing people – locals and tourists – together to remember what has happened, and what a future of collaboration and community cohesion can look like.
Tamboon Peachtree Association is a not-for-profit organisation set up by community members in East Gippsland to liaise with government bodies and the general public, to raise funds for equipment that protects lives, property, flora and fauna in the Tamboon Peachtree area. Learn more about the organisation here.
Learn more about Fire to Flourish East Gippsland here. You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow the East Gippsland team on Facebook to hear all the latest updates.