Rainbow Artists
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Ali and Lyn Rawle (1)
I was born in Mooroopna and lived and went to school in Shepparton. I worked for the ANZ bank for a number of years and lived in Cranbourne for 30 years before moving to Rainbow three years ago. I enjoyed sewing at school and I have sewn ever since in different ways. I have also enjoyed doing other crafts such as card making. I use stamps whilst making cards and I like seeing words in stitchery designs. The Stamp at the bottom of the bat is one I used to use a lot and thought the combination of it with words would work well. I took the bat to Melbourne and asked my daughter Ali to do the writing for me. To me, the bat means I’d pick YOU even if you have a disability as I look at the person not the disability and we all need friends.
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Alison Ey (1)
As I am an avid photographer I was initially going to present a bat with some of my photos transferred onto it. However, due to the complexities of it (as I didn’t want to ruin it) I reassessed my idea. So I decided to do my next love and that is of mosaics. My design resembles Rainbow in the colours, and the words are ones which ‘make the world go round’ and resonate with everyone.
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Allira Roberts (1)
I grew up in Jeparit and went to high school in Rainbow. After moving around a bit my husband and I settled in Rainbow in 2008. I love doing a few different crafts but I’ve recently started mixed media. I also love scrapbooking and have been able to combine the two together. I have 3 wonderful kids that keep me very busy. I have muscular dystrophy but I don’t let it define my life. I battle anxiety and depression but doing mixed media really helps that. Aerodynamically Bees aren’t meant to be able to fly, but they don’t know this and do it anyway. Thjis has been a source of inspiration whilst I’ve struggled with my Muscular Dystrophy disability. The three bees in my piece represent myself and my two boys that have congenital myopathy. Although we have these disgnoses we don’t let it stop us from trying new things and doing whatwe love. We are very lucky to live in Rainbow and have lots of support from our community.
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Amy Barton (1)
I grew up in Rainbow and am currently living in Horsham. I have always had a natural curiosity and love for the Arts and Design and have qualifications in both Florestry and Interior Design. I draw my inspiration from organic forms and movement created in nature as well as colours and patterns. This bat represents my love of taking a traditional drawing style and putting my own flair on it. I have incorporated my love of flowers, movement, form and colour into the design.
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Angela Walker (1)
My current series of works “Dancing with the Environment” examines how I feel about my identity, what gender role-play means to me and domesticity within an agricultural setting. The concept for these works has an ambiguous undertone where humour isn’t lost, but the romantic notion of rural life is questioned. I have a nursing background and I am always wanting to help others. Montessori concepts are part of my work experience and this is important across the board; ability is much more in focus than disability. I also have friends who have children with autism and so I understand the impact on family and friends. The body doesn’t need to be whole of the strength of love lives within. This tiny dancer has only one arm, but with love she can be a ballerina of her dreams.
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Anne Simms (1)
I have, after 30 years, started up art again with the local art group. I am mainly interested in Oils and portraiture and more recently, in working with soft pastels because of their ease of application. I enjoy reading and have started to have a great interest in Autism and the development of theories associated with Autism. My bat was inspired by this years England v’s Australia Ashes Test, which the Aussies were supreme in after many years. The ashes trophy which is 4” tall, is now in Australia’s hands.
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Annette Nichols (1)
I have been drawing since I could hold a pencil. Art has been a part of me my whole life. I draw and paint every day. I have lived in the Wimmera for over 10 years and love the wide open space and quiet. I donate lots of art to animal welfare groups to help raise funds. I’m very happy to be able to be a part of this cause for Will and look forward to taking part again. Animals are so pure they don’t see themselves as beautiful or better than any other being. They just want to live. When you look into their eyes there’s no hidden agenda.
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Anthony Pelchen (1)
Anthony Pelchen studied painting at the Victorian College of the Arts and has exhibited widely in gallery, institutional and alternative spaces in Australia, Japan and Malaysia, He works across mediums and has formed various cross art form projects, culminating with the Malaysia Australia Raft Project in 2015, courtyard Australian Centre for Contemporary Art; an 11-artist installation and performance work, part of the world wide project, Fluid States – Performances of Unknowing. Anthony is based again at his birth place on the Wimmera River, NW Victoria, with night drawing a constant in his practice; hybrid environments that hover between utopian and dystopian - part landscape, part architectural, part bodily. For over 30 years he has also worked with people of All Abilities, supporting and escalating their creative impulses in painting and beyond.
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Antoinette Stokell (1)
I am a former Rainbow resident now living in Adelaide. I have always created art and my subjects are varied. I chose birds for the bat because they can always be seen in the Mallee Landscape.
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Ashleigh Martin (1)
I went to kindergarten and primary school in Rainbow, but because of my intellectual disability we moved to Warracknabeal after grade 6 and I attended the specialist school there for a few years. If we had not moved to Swan Hill, I would have been involved with Woodbine and that is why I wanted to paint a bat. I drew my design because I love bright colours and nature. My old school friends attend Woodbine and I wanted to be part of the project that might be able to help them.
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Ayla Roberts (1)
I’m in year 8. Some things I love are Travelling, netball, football, hanging out with friends and riding scooters. In September I went to London and I thought that I would take my willow shirt and take some photos. And I thought they would look awesome on my bat and that’s where I got the inspiration for my bat.
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Belinda Aikas (1)
Belinda Aikas is a self-taught mixed media artist based in Melbourne. Her artwork is inspired by a lifelong passion with the ocean and Australia’s diverse coastline. The visceral motivation factor behind her work as she says, “the beach and the ocean, it’s just in my soul”. When I think of cricket, I associate it with the memory of childhood Summer holidays, playing cricket with my friends down the beach on long balmy summer days into the evening at sunset. As this creation is a collaboration project with Will’s crew and Woodbine who did the preparation for this bat, I left the handle as I received it, acknowledging their contribution to this artwork.
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Belinda Eckermann (1)
Belinda Eckermann lives and works in Victoria’s Mallee Region. Her current practice is intrinsically tied to her local environment. In 2013 she undertook her Masters in Visual Arts, during which she developed an interest in working with the invasive white snail, commonly encountered in her agricultural community. Her work with the snail shifted her practice toward drawing and a focus on drawing as installation, culminating in her use of the snails as medium. She is currently investigating the native Bardi Grub and Ghost Moth and modes of incorporating their natural behaviours with their environment into her creative practice. Eckermann has exhibited regularly throughout regional Victoria since 2009 and recently won Best Emerging Artist at the Knox Immerse Festival and was also a finalist in the Pro Hart Outback Prize 2019. Previously was shortlisted for the People’s Choice Award at the 2016 Mission to Seafarers exhibition in Melbourne, where she was also awarded the Bendigo Emerging Artists Judge’s Special Commendation. Her bat .. The Rain Moth, much like people living with disabilities, have a history of being treated with fear; fear of not knowing, fear of being different. But if we look closer, we are shown the beauty within. Like the stunningly detailed labyrinth patterns of the Rain Moth and this moth’s innate ability to sense the coming of the rains, people living with disabilities have amazing abilities. Let’s celebrate these abilities and learn from one another.
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Chugg Fuller (1)
“Chugg” lives just out of Rainbow. He likes collecting old things and making things out of old steel. Recently he has donated two sculptures to the Rainbow Oasis Garden and one to the RSL, all of which have been well received by the community. I chose to do a train as I have lived near the Rainbow train line for 55 years.
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Colin Frew (1)
Born and bred in Rainbow, I have lived here most of my life, except when working around the country on various construction jobs. I have always had an interest in welding and making things on the farm. I had a thought about doing farm art but couldn’t think of anything to make. Then along came Bats for Will, so I thought I’d have a go. Bat 1 is made from a Railway spike and rods shaped and welded into the surfer Kelly Slater. Bat 2 is a cricket match between Australia and India, with the bat as the pitch. The bowler is DK Lillee, the batsman is SM Gavaskar and the wicket keeper is RW Marsh.
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Daniel Butterworth (1)
Daniel Butterworth has been practicing as an artist for over twenty years and resides in Kyneton. In that time Daniel has exhibited in Flinders Lane Melbourne, as well as the Bridget McDonnel gallery in Hampton, Victoria. Most notable for his portrait work, Daniel has been a finalist in many art awards, including the Black San portrait prize, the Doug Moran Prize and the Archibald prize. He also opened the 2016 Archibald exhibition in Ballarat and has accomplished many commissions, including several of TV personality and comedian Shane Jacobson. Daniels work is predominantly large scale, using self-portraits as a recurring theme. His recent work has seen a shift from working with oils on paper to house paints on cardboard. This medium showcases the speed of his brush strokes to indicate movement with the figure. With a multitude of different colours making up the tonal values and the use of the cardboard markings and paint dribbles, his works show strength, uniqueness and a rawness within. Attaching my current medium of choice to the bat makes it true to me as an artist. Had I painted straight onto the bat my heart wouldn’t have been in it and the application would have been compromised. I paint myself continuously so the shape of the bat was just a compositional challenge.
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Daniel Eckermann (1)
Daniel is qualified in all types of welding and has previously created unique works for his father out of wood and recycled farm machinery. Returning to Rainbow after many years of welding navy ships and sculpting community artworks. From here, he has continued to create many sculptural works, displaying his skills in the quality finishes of the works.
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Dave Turner (1)
“My name is Dave Turner, and I carve whales.” He sets up in his small woodworking shop next to his house and produces close to 100 whale carvings a year. He didn’t get to this point by accident though. His story takes him from home to Washington D.C. and then back home. Dave ended up down on the Cape through his family. The home he lives in now was once owned by his grandfather. Since he was a child, Dave spent a majority of his time in the house during the summer months. “My Grandfather bought this house in the forties when you couldn’t give land away down here. We were fortunate. We just never sold it. For me I grew up in Western Massachusetts going back and forth every day. All the summers all the holidays all of that business. This is where all my brothers and cousins would come to. We would get out of school one day and pack up the car to be down here the next. We would stay straight through the summer. That was always the big draw here. Stay straight through to see friends and family. Yeah it was always just a fun place to be.” After high school he decided to try living on Cape for a few years until his life lead him south to Washington D.C. “I worked down in the Pentagon for 19 Years before I moved back here. I’m not even sure there is a lot of stories down there. (Chuckling) Not a lot you’re supposed to talk about.” When he moved back to the Cape, he and his cousin decided to work as carpenters to make a dollar here and there. While working with wood for a living he started to carve items for friends and family and soon started to carve whales. He garnished enough interest over time for his product and decided to start a whale carving business. The carpentry business dwindled away and the wood carving business took off. When asked about the business and advice for other year round folks on Cape Cod, the passion came out. “I’ve seen a few things. Just do it 100 percent. Be relentless with it. Be fucking relentless with it. If you really think you’re on to something don’t change your scope. Don’t change anything else and do just that. Bombard it. Crush it. Every Day. Every night. When you wake up in the morning. Fucking go do it. Non-stop. And sooner or later, you’ll figure out its horseshit or it’s amazing. It’s going to be one or the other. Nothing in between. That's what it generally is. If you bother people long enough with it somebody’s going to say yes.” You can see this passion and love for what he does in the work he produces. This mantra translates to his business and his life in general.
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David Crosbie (1)
I live in Woodend in Central Victoria. I have been making art in one form or another for as long as I can remember. I predominately work in acrylics and watercolour, but occasionally I like to make prints. My influences are many and varied, from William Blake to Banksy; I love to work with bright colour. Lately I have been inspired by the group dynamic, how people react to the environment and each other.
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Debbie Moar (1)
Debbie lives in Dimboola and has worked as a Secondary art teacher at Dimboola, St Brigid’s College in Horsham and as an education officer at the Horsham Regional Art Gallery. Before teaching Debbie worked in Arts and Cultural Development for local governments in Ballarat and Melbourne. She has a BA in Visual Arts majoring in Printmaking and is inspired by her collection of op shop objects. My bat is inspired by an eclectic collection of objects scoured from local op shops or second-hand stores visited on various road trips. My last find was of a large ebonized wooden Polynesian mask with paua shell inlay. Why would someone have got rid of this? It’s amazing! My husband drives trains and I seem to be surrounded by high vis orange uniform which has influenced a playful use of colour against the black of the mask. Interpreting a wooden ornament that hangs on a wall into a design painted onto a wooden bat is the connection between my odd collection and this project for Willo industries.
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Dennis Huff (1)
Denis is a primary producer who has lived in Rainbow or its surrounds, all of his life. He currently works as a gardener at Rainbow P-12 College. He has always enjoyed “tinkering”(like his father Clarrie) in his work shop and prefers to work with recycled scrap metal materials. He has recently been making sea creatures using tynes, chains, bolts and horse shoes. He made a giant pencil out of a wooden log to go into the school garden. After seeing this, Belinda suggested he make smaller pencils using cricket wickets/stumps and display them on a bat for Rainbow Bats for Will.
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Dianne Martin (1)
I grew up in the Jeparit/Rainbow area, I did my high school years in Rainbow and lived in the area for quite a few years after that. I wouldn’t say I was an artist by any means, but I enjoy arty things. I currently enjoy painting rocks to sell and to hide for people to find, hopefully brightening their day. I also love photography, I love getting out with my camera, it’s good for the soul. My daughter has an intellectual disability, one of the reasons I wanted to help with this project. I chose the design for my bat purely because that is the style I like at the moment. I love the bright colours and the simpleness of it. I spent a lot of years in the Rainbow area and still feel like it is home. My daughter attended the specialist school at Warracknabeal after we left Rainbow, we moved again before she got to be involved with Woodbine, but I am sure some of her school friends would use it and if this project can help them in any way I am happy to help.
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Don Fisher (1)
As a youngster I didn't show much artistic talent, that came later in life. Although my mother and her two sisters were fairly artistic. I became a farmer, although now I only farm a small onion crop. I never realised I wanted to paint until my mate Phil bought a house and there were dilapidated gnomes in the garden. I painrted them up and gave them to my grandchildren. As I painted them I grew more interested in the gnome world and looked into it further. There is a lot more to gnomes than when you look at first glance. So I delved into their world and with my family history of painting, I refurbished and painted a number of gnomes and in the process, heard their stories. The First Australian Gnome Cricket Team. These seven Gnomes painted on this bat are some of a team that toured England in the late 1800's. They heard of the success of the Indigenous team from Harrow in the Western District had when they went to England and decided to follow. They mostly played against Forest Fairies and Hobgoblin teams which were very popular in England at that period. They were never beaten and came home with the ashes from Robin Hood's Fire in Sherwood Forest. However, the other 5 Gnomes that made up the team were stolen (kidnapped) from the group and taken to Margaret River in Western Australia, so the team retired. I painted the seven who were left, from their pictures onto this bat.
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Dustin Eckermann (1)
I am 10 years old and am currently in grade 5. I love to play Fortnite on the Xbox and footy for my local Storm Team. I also enjoy being involved in the local Scouts group. My bat is designed after my local footy team Jeparit/Rainbow Storm. I selected the colours of the team and the lightning patterns and team name. I chose this because footy is fun, it needs team players and it represents Rainbow.
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Emma Glen (1)
Handcrafted in country Victoria, my intricate designs are inspired by natural beauty using the elements found around us. I take pride in the materials used to crteate gorgeous handmade statement pieces, sustainably and ethically sourced. Being a fibre artist to me is about getting back to nature and tweaking what has been passed down through generations for many years. Being able to design whimsical, intricate and delicate pieces is exciting.
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Floss Ampt (1)
I moved to Rainbow in 1968 and have enjoyed living here since. I used to do tap dancing, choir singing, I was part of a singing trio and I also did amateur theatre and light opera. I like to be supportive of great initiatives within the town of Rainbow. As a young city child with a curious nature and only a small yard to play in, I would spend hours watching the variety of flying insects feeding on the many flowers blossoming in my mother’s crowded “pot plant” garden. As spring progressed, the butterflies would arrive; they would dance through the air in a colourful crowd, landing on the flowers to feed and displaying their finely etched wings. It was wonderful entertainment for one so young! Now many, many years later, I still enjoy the spring arrival of the Butterflies. To my mind, these beautiful, colourful creatures are “flying works of art”. I love Butterflies!!!
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Francis Guerin (1)
Francis is a ceramicist who lives in the Wombat Forest just out of Daylesford. The green hilly landscape of the Shire is the inspiration of her bat for Willo.
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Gayle Newcombe (1)
I live outside of Rainbow working from home in our 80 year old barn. I’ve been an artist for 7 years , taking it up full time 2 years ago. I use pastel and charcoal, I find very versatile and suits my style. I am inspired by nature , colours and beautiful light. I am a pet and wildlife artist and an avid photographer working form my photos to create my art. Growing up in Rainbow until I was 5 on the family farm and then attending Rainbow high school I am delighted to be involved in this fundraiser and fantastic idea. Not only am I proud to be involved, I am so proud to showcase one of my original works onto this bat and present it in the exhibition in my home town of Rainbow. I decided to put working Clydesdales on my bat for the love of the horse and what they represent to me. Gentle giants with a history In Australia that runs deep, just like cricket and this bat. The pure hearts, the forgiving nature’s and friendships. Just one of the athletes in the horse world, big and strong. I am sure many can relate to the horse and this amazing initiative.
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Gilda Cassidy (1)
I came to Rainbow late 2017 and I am lucky enough to be retired. I discovered my creativity later in life, and I am planning to expand my abilities in the future. I am happy to be a part of Rainbow Bats for Will and I am thankful that Belinda gave me the confidence to participate. "Bees are Life” My painting inspiration comes straight from my love of my garden. Flowers and colour. I also love to see the animals and insects enjoying the garden, especially the bees.
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Helen Heinrich (1)
I live on a farm just outside Rainbow. I use metal, watercolour and acrylic paints at a very beginners level and like to make things out of rusted items that I source from around our property. I draw my inspiration from the land and the outback which I love. This bat represents my love for country; the summer sunsets that I like to admire and be thankful of the beauty and serenity that surrounds me.
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Ian King (1)
Ian is a engineer for Cathay Pacific. He freely admits he is not an artist just someone who wants to contribute and help make a difference. His love of sport, adventure and Will .. we think.. has created a spark of creativity that was hidden deep within. He is a fully fledged artist now and who knows what he will create next!
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Jaime Eckermann (1)
I am in year 7 and enjoy learning tricks whilst kneeboarding, scootering and riding my mountain bike. I also love playing football and working on the farm. As Will loves sports like I do, I decided to get some of my old scooter wheels and attach them onto a bat. I also placed my old Lucky brand handle bar end plug on one of the wheels and painted the lucky four leaf clover to bring luck to whoever buys the bat.
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Jas Turpie (1)
Bendigo raised artist, Jasper Turpie is a 20 year old second year animation student at VCA Melbourne University. Due to his upbringing as the son of former LaTrobe Fine Art lecturer Stephen Turpie, Jasper has never stopped creating and practicing. He currently sells t-shirt designs, prints and works occasionally in freelance animation and video editing. See his shortfilms on his YouTube: See his works and projects on his Instagram @jasperturpie.art This bat represents two sides, the conscious thoughts on the external world. One side represents self-reflection and image, the other reflects things we are unhappy with on the outside.
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Jillian Young (1)
I grew up in Canada on Lake Superior. Nature has always been my therapy and councillor in my life. I consider myself a pretty adaptable person. From the ocean of forests, I grew up in, to the vast open desert I call home now, I find a sense of peace and home whenever I am in nature. I take great comfort in exploring the natural world on a deeper level. I am a practising yoga teacher, a mother and a bit of a wild Artist. Sometimes my painting is slow, sombre and gentle. Other times they are bold and convey a deeper message. I simply see myself as a conduit for spirit to work through me, anchoring in any information I feel necessary at the time. My Mission in life is to spread fun, beauty and joy wherever the path in life takes me. “Transformation of the Heart”. My original design for the cricket bat, wasn't resonating with me. So, I went away for a weekend and sat out on country and asked spirit what I needed to convey. I feel this strong connection to the land and the original elders. Each night, I sit out and watch the Dark Emu (a dark nebular cloud in which we live under) dance across the sky. The dark Emu is our connection to the earth and stars. It reminds us where we are in this space time and urges us to connect on a deeper level. I have painted the stars in the exact position they appear in relevance to the dark emu in the night sky, so if you can find the southern cross you can find the dark emu. To me the dark emu speaks of our connection to the land, for it is only here under the brightest stars that you can see the darkest shadows in the night sky. It brings about a sense of wonder and awe far beyond what any words can capture. Something so special only experiencing it, does it justice. On the reverse side of my bat I wanted something equally as powerful symbolically. The black symbol on the meat of the bat is called a Chestahedron. The Chestahedron has only just been discovered and it is a transformational symbol. An alchemical symbol. The chestahedron in its 3 diamensional shape is the heart. It is through our heart that we transform our state of being. I truly believe that all of life is alchemy. Taking our lives from a base state and allowing our struggle to shape and transform us into a higher state of being. Struggle and adversity has a negative stigma around it, yet when we go through the motions it dramatically shapes who we are and how we live our life in this world. Lastly, the Splice of the bat (where the handle is connected to the rest of the bat) is symbolic of spirit working through us and to us . Without the handle, the bat would be pretty useless. It is one of the most important parts in a bat, a handle to hold onto so you can play the game. I see this as a metaphor for life. Without hope, Life becomes a pretty difficult game to play. It is spirit that gives us wisdom, hope and a sense of greater renewal. I painted the bat, the colours of the chakras, to represent how spirit, filters down and works through all of our being. The bat is purposely not painted perfectly, because nothing in life is perfect. Perfect is only in our own heads. We make mistakes, this is how we grow, learn and live. This is how we expand beyond the borders of what is acceptable and transform this world. We transform every experience through our hearts, it’s called feeling. This is called the alchemy of life. When we learn to live, and make decisions through our hearts we change this world as we know it.
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Joan Goad (1)
Joan has been an art teacher at various schools in the Warracknabeal area since 1973. From 2008 onwards, she attended what was the University of Ballarat, and now Federation University, where she studied painting with Ewen Ross. She is now part of a group of artists, all previous Fed Uni students, who meet weekly at the studios. She has specialised in brightly coloured, large, contemporary, non-representational acrylics on canvas. My bat design has my usual bright colours, symbols and shapes. I’ve used acrylic paints, fluoro paint also, with paint pens for the finer details. Some shapes emulate the cricketing essentials such as the green grassy oval, cricket balls, the boundary fence, ect. The bright colours refer to the fun side of cricket. I was the art teacher at a special needs school before I retired, so I have had lots of interaction with kids that have special needs. I thought the project sounded great, so was pleased to be included.
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John Butterworth (1)
John is a wood and metal work sculptor who has exhibited extensively in North/East, Central and Southern Victoria. He has taken his work to festivals and as part of a Botanical Gardens sculpture walk. With enormous success in prizes, he has been a finalist more than once in the Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition, first prize numerous times in the Woodend Art Exhibition, he won the 2009 Tonks Sculpture Prize in Castlemaine, third prize in 2000 at the Daffodil Day Arts Award Melbourne and received highly commended in 1998 at the Daikara Arts festival in Sunbury. Using cricket language this was my attempt at visual humour.
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Julie Gale (1)
This bat represents a hard working farmer and father out looking over his farm and checking on his crop, walking in the sunset with his daughter.
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Julie Hollis (1)
I love to draw every day....my cupboards are full of paper and canvas but, it gives me great pleasure, especially when I sell a piece to a lovely home. I have the best husband in the entire world, two wonderful sons and a beautiful granddaughter and grandson.I have 3 dogs who I adore and they adore me and .. I love life. I'm very proud to have won quite a few awards during 2016 and 2017.
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Karen Wiseman (1)
My art is inspired by the rich fauna of my surroundings. My Art is produced between the realm of memory and the realm of experience, directly responding to the surrounding environment and everyday experiences with nature as a starting point. Often these are framed instances which would go unnoticed in their original context. In my surrealism work I can easily imagine my own interpretation without being hindered by the reality. I was recently showcased on the TV series “Colour in your Life” and in 2018 I won an Editorial as Featured Artist in the English Hidden Treasures Coloured Pencils Art Magazine England. I have received a number of awards, including First in Mental Health Art Exhibition Wimmera Uniting Care Horsham in 2016, Highly Commended in Blues & Hues Art Show in 2006, Highly Commended for Aussie Nature in Art show in International Art show India in 2013 and Commended in Cancer Council Art Show in 2015. I chose the wrens because they are a part of my garden, and although they are small in stature, they are resilient beyond their size and will often fight off opposition that seem impossible odds. I feel they are a wonderful metaphor for life. Don’t let the size of the problem overwhelm you! Keep at it, determination will get you to your goal.
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Karl Williams (1)
I am an Army Veteran and a former victim of being a ward of the state. I moved to Rainbow 2 years ago as the pressure of living in Melbourne was too much for my health. This bat symbolises my battle with PTSD, Depression and Anxiety.
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Karon Sacks (1)
My art reflects the passion and love for animals of all kinds especially Australian native fauna and flora. The colours are also inspired by the Great Barrier Reef and my love of the African wildlife.
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Kay Wedding (1)
I have lived in Rainbow for 38 years after growing up in New Zealand. I have always liked to dabble in craft whether it be sewing, knitting, mosaics, folk art and last year I thought I would buy a canvas and some paints and have a dabble at that. I have yet to start some classes and hopefully will one of these days. When I heard about the Willo foundation and fundraising for this cause I thought I would give it a go. I hope this piece brings you a little bit of sunshine too.
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Lauren McDonald (1)
I am a 21 year old female art enthusiast. I have enjoyed art throughout all my schooling. I come from a small town just outside Rainbow. I enjoy art because it allows me to express my feelings without being judged. Growing up I was in foster care and then at the age of 4 was put into a permanent care family where I still live today. I struggle through some days but thanks to art and being able to express anger and upset through a meaningful means, I have been able to be here today. I was diagnosed with ADHD and borderline Autism, so mental illness has allowed me to see life in a different perspective. My bat represents the society of today. I believe that people depend on makeup and camouflage to survive because everyone is quick to judge without thinking. That is what’s in my bat; a face made to look like it has makeup, then dispersed into the background which is represented into todays society.
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Linda Newton (1)
Linda Newtion ius a drawer and Illustrator. She usually works on paper finding different ways to draw and illustrate the amazing and inspiring local species, especially the birds. “Line and Form has always intrigued me” Linda says. With exhibitions all over Australian and producing many Illustrated story books, Linda has exhibited with the Castlemaine state festival since 1994. You can see Linda working in her studio at The Mill, surrounded with her vibrant and bold bird works that evoke colour and energy. You can alsoi admire Linda’s humour, love for coffee, rain and mild sunny days! Linda can be contacted at MA56 studio, The Mill, Castlemaine. The owls on the bat represent wisdom so it’s a wise bat, anyone who picks up the bat gains more wisdom. I am a professional “Batty” artist who enjoys Batting away Pesky flies…so there’s no flies on me. Enjoy the bat, the owls and get wise.
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Linda Wheeler (1)
I live in Trentham, Victoria where I have a working studio. I have studied Fine and Contemporary Art for twenty-seven years, completing a Master of Visual Arts by research in 2015. My practice includes drawing, stone sculpting and watercolour and I am currently working with oil paint and some mixed media. My research involves exploring the uncertain spaces between figuration and indeterminacy employing urban and natural references to achieve my images.
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Llew Schilling (1)
I was born in Rainbow in 1936. I was in the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Service for 33years. I then retired back to Rainbow. I have 3 sons, the youngest ofr which has a cattle station in the NT, where I go to visit for 3 months in winter each year to operate his bulldozer and do general station work. My hobbies are landscaping and developing my disused grain silo as a garden home here in Rainbow. My passion for landscaping and especially succulents has inspired the design of this bat.
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Mal Smith (1)
I have lived locally (Rainbow) all my life. I used to be a farmer and now I am a teacher. I teach a lot of music, so when the bats turned up it was obvious to me what they could be. Bat 1 is a Lager Phone (the collection of stubby tops took a long time), a modern Australian percussion instrument. It is played by tapping it with part of a wicket and on the ground. Bat 2 is a two-string slide guitar. It is constructed from using old bails for tuning knobs, a bridge and a saddle. I have called it the “Williminator” after Willo Industries.
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Marg Unger (1)
I came to Rainbow as a young primary school teacher in 1970 and ended up building a house here and raising two daughters. I am now retired and enjoying my craft projects which include stitcheries, patchwork, card making and scrapbooking. After a lot of ideas in my head for the bat, I came up with the idea of painting stems and leaves for button flowers. However the button flowers turned into paper flowers and butterflies. I used wool for the grass and hessian tape for the trim. I chose this design because I love flowers and butterflies.
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Mary and Les Graetz (1)
Mary has lived in Rainbow for the last thirty-four years and is originally from Uruguay in South America. She sees art as a way of expressing herself and to keep her mind in a good place. Most of Mary’s art involves upcycling, using many different materials which she uses to make unique works of art. Les began taking photos at the football and netball over ten years ago because there was a need for a photographer at Jeparit Rainbow Football Netball Club. This lead to him being employed on a casual basis by the Rainbow Jeparit Argus. Over the year, he also takes photos of tennis, cricket, swimming, athletics and off road car racing. The challenge of capturing the moment and telling a story is what inspires Les. This bat is a collaboration between Mary and Les Graetz. Mary has used Les’s sports photos the Argus as a base for her decoupage. Community and sport is an important part of Rainbow and the Willo connection. Love sport and art, our connection with Willo industries and helping disabilities the same time.
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Matthew Butterworth (1)
Matthew lives and works in Melbourne. He has works in major public and private collections including NAB, MPRG, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery, Warnambool Regional Art Gallery, Ten Victoria and the Macedon Ranges Shire Council. He was the winner of the Manningham Victorian Ceramic Arts Award and the National Works on Paper. I wanted the narrative of this work to exist prior to my intervention. By selecting a pre-used bat, raw and untouched, I aimed to interact with its history. The addition of gold, lustre fires clay not only speaks to my artistic practice, but moves towards an inner action seeking an audience.
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Melanie Unger (1)
I grew up in Rainbow then studied hospitality when I left school. Worked in a bar, waitressing and kitchens for many years. I have studied aged care and worked as a personal care worker and I am currently studying my enrolled endorsed nursing. My bat is a mixed media design which is a bit different but very therapeutic.
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Michael Martin (1)
I am 23 years old and did some of my schooling in Rainbow. I enjoy drawing and photography. I love anything animated, especially Disney, Pixar and Warner Brothers. I wanted to help out with this project as my sister is special needs and we still have a connection with the Rainbow area. The idea for my cricket bat design was to find something that would make people happy. The reason why I specifically chose Taz from ‘Looney Tunes’ is because while growing up, he was one of my favourite characters to watch on the show and now I still watch it in my spare time. I spent my first few school years at Rainbow Primary School, before having to move to Warracknabeal because my sister has an intellectual disability and she was going to attend the specialist school there. We then moved to Swan Hill where I am in a Ten Pin Bowling league along with my sister and lots of other special needs people with ages ranging from as young as 5 or 6, to others that are in their 30’s. We all enjoy bowling as it is a sport that everyone can do.
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Mick Fraser (1)
I have lived part time in Rainbow for over 10 years. I have held many jobs such as making furniture, plumbing, builder, roof safety and farming for 30 years. I like tinkering with cars and motorcycles and also creating rustic pieces out of repurposing car and bike parts into functional creative pieces. I have turned my bat into a 4 string electric guitar. It has been made from motorcycle parts and a hub cap from a car. Due to the flexing within the wood of cricket bats, this guitar is difficult to keep in tune. So whilst playable, it is more of a statement piece for the wall.
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Missy Fuller (1)
I grew up in Rainbow and my parents still live here. I live in Kaniva. I have always enjoyed doing art in many forms; at the moment it’s mosaics. I chose a design which consisted of memories of Rainbow; various local native flowers and the blue wren, which is a bird I always loved to see on my parents farm.
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Naomi White (1)
Naomi lives in Rainbow and classes herself as a crafter. She first taught herself bead weaving in 2007 and enjoys creating three dimensional objects. More recently she has re-taught herself to crochet after exploring the possibility of creating beaded objects using amigurumi crochet patterns.
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Natalie Robinson (1)
I live on a rural property near the town of Rainbow in Victoria. I have always admired and appreciated art of all kinds and begun creating my own works about five years ago. I enjoy different mediums especially the versatility of acrylics together with the depth and interest mixed media brings to a work. Inspirations for my works come from learning new techniques and the beauty of my unique local surroundings. I painted the silos on my bat to represent the area with a local landmark and an aspect of local industry in and around Rainbow. Silos are currently of great interest in art.
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Nina Gould (1)
Art has always been my passion and I developed my skills at art school while training to be a secondary art teacher in the ‘60’s. Working with the clay medium was my speciality. However, after many years of teaching art, pottery and textiles at Hopetoun, raising a family and farming, I am enjoying experimenting with yarns, fibre and fabrics and find my greatest inspiration is the mallee landscape. The design is influenced by Australian native plants with their vibrant flowers and colours. I have simplified the shapes to enhance and strengthen the design elements.
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Peter Hill (1)
Born: Casterton, VIC 1970. Studied Bachelor Fine Arts and Graduate Diploma Secondary Teaching @ Ballarat University 1989-1992. Employed as secondary school teacher 1994-2004, working at Dimboola, Casterton & Rainbow. Studied Certificate IV Nursing, Federation University, Horsham campus 2005. Employed as enrolled nurse @ Dunmunkle Health Services 2006-2016. Currently employed @ West Wimmera Health Services. Currently lives in Murtoa. Recognised for his aviation paintings and landscapes.
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Rachel Salpietro (1)
I learnt how to crochet when I was about 10, my nan and mum taught me. I only started up again recently because my little girl wanted to make something, so I showed her how to finger knit. Whilst she did that I taught myself how to make a beanie and now I am making all sorts of things. I have lived in Rainbow for about 12 months now, my partner Dean and myself moved from Geelong to run the Eureka Hotel/Rainbow Brewery for his brother. I crocheted my wicket into a gum tree with a koala in it as it was the first thing that came to mind and thought it would look pretty cool.
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Rainbow Cubs and Scouts (1)
The Rainbow Scout Group in a joint effort, were pleased to do two bats for the Will’s Cricket Bat project. Cubs had a great time painting the bats and the scouts glued on old Scouting Badges.
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Rainbow Day Care Centre (1)
The group had been knitting and crocheting other projects and had shown a real interest in it. We decided to design the bat around this interest. We decided as a group to crochet the coloured flowers as we thought this represents Rainbow – Bright and Colourful.
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Rainbow P-12 College (1)
At Rainbow P-12 College we are very proud to offer your child an education from Prep to Year 12 in a safe, supportive and stimulating learning community. Rainbow P-12 is a Child Safe school. We encourage and develop the character strengths of Optimism, Grit, Zest, Curiosity, Self-Control, Social Intelligence and Gratitude and work hard to nurture the skills and attributes that underpin lifelong learning. P-12 schools are unique and especially value the opportunities a small rural P-12 like ours does provide for students, staff, parents and the wider school community. Nine students painted for the Rainbow Bats for Will Exhibition to support our community to be more inclusive.
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Ray Hinchcliffe (1)
I live and work as a cleaner and gardener in Warracknabeal. I am a very creative person and enjoy sharing my passion and expressing myself through art.
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Rooth Robertson (1)
I am a contemporary aboriginal artist from the Wiradjuri people. I love to depict the stories of the places I have lived. The bat I was asked to paint is a celebration of the farm life around Rainbow. I only recently set up a new home in Rainbow and I am looking forward to depicting the stories in my paintings. Rooth has exhibited in the Art Gallery of NSW, Macquarie Galleries Sydney, London, New York, Tokyo, New Zealand and throughout Australia.
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Sam Clarke (1)
I am a 19 year old mum of two who has lived in the Wimmera for many years. I call it home and could not imagine ever leaving this beautiful place. My mum’s an artist so I’ve been around art my whole life. Mum inspired me to become an artist and pet portraits began my career. I have won many awards and sent art overseas. I also love doing farm sculptures and have won awards with these, including the Wimmera field days. I don’t do much art these days as I am a busy mum who also raises and shows poultry. I pick up a pencil or brush at least once a week. I always find and make time to create art for worthy causes and to help out where I can. I believe in good Karma and paying it forward. Animals are so pure they don’t see themselves as beautiful or better than any other being. They just want to live. When you look into their eyes there’s no hidden agenda.
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Shannon Koschel (1)
“Beauty is all around you. You just have to open your eyes, your mind and your shutter”. I was born in Wodonga. Raised in Beechworth. I struggled with social skills and changed schools frequently because of bullying. This became the root cause of my depression. My only place of peace was behind the camera and in the dark room. My late father was very artistic and inspired me to be creative. I dabbled in film on and off, stopped taking photos for a few years, then got a digital SLR for my wedding. After that the camera became a part of me. Currently I am studying to be an education support worker in the disability field. I am hoping to gain employment at the local special school. “Batting for Sydney”. This image is of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was selected mainly because of the vanishing point and because it was printed in black and white. I think it shows one of Australia’s most iconic bridges in a different way. It’s ok to be different…
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Sharon Mobourne (1)
I am an indigenous woman living in Warracknabeal. I enjoy being creative, particularly through drama, photography and art. I enjoy exploring my indigenous heritage through these mediums.
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Shirley Decker (1)
My love of art and craft developed from a very early age, and this was nurtured by my mother as she taught me to sew, knit and embroider. I knitted and sewed clothes for my dolls and soon started designing and making clothes for myself, recycling the fabric from Mums old dresses (‘vintage’ before it became trendy!!) I also loved to paint and draw, and the decoration I painted on my shed doors of my childhood home in Red cliffs is still there today. The Santa that I painted when I was 11 still makes an appearance every Christmas. Since completing my teacher training I have had the opportunity to share my skills with students and colleagues, enabling children to experience a wide variety of materials and techniques as a part of an integrated curriculum. I loved adapting traditional stories and creating masks and costumes for school plays. My involvement in the community has included individual and group projects. I painted murals and also co-ordinated students to paint murals at each of our schools. Halls in Hopetoun and Beulah have been decorated for many school productions and debutante balls. On completing the Mallee Mural in the centre of town, Trish Hogan and I produced educational material which has been used along with The Meeting Place murals to enhance local history learning. One challenge has been to create giant ice cream trollies at the aged care facilities in Hopetoun and Warracknabeal. I used paper Mache for this project and not only was it a great way to recycle old newspapers- the results continue to provide enjoyment for the residents, families and staff. Since retiring from full time teaching, I am still involved in school programs and find plenty of stimulation and fulfilment in this busy little community.
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Shirley Flack (1)
I started patch working in 1982 and I enjoy using whatever I have. I enjoy seeing something and working out how it was made and doing it. I enjoy fabric and particularly small pieces. My patchwork is not always conventional, but if you see anything I have done, you know I have enjoyed doing it. In our motor home we have a baseball bat in case someone breaks in. Because of this, I selected to use this bat for my design. "A patched bat" I was a well used baseball bat, in need of renovation. What better way than to patch it. Using scraps of fabric triangles down the front with rick rack trim down the back I could hang straight down the wall, ready as a weapon, if the need arose.
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Shirley Newton (1)
Shirley is now 87 years old. She grew up on a farm and has lived in Rainbow all her life. When she was 72 she started painting and prefers rural scenes and the unchanged beauty of the times as her subjects. She mostly paints with oils because they are easier to control. There are murals around the Rainbow Albacutya area and she has been a part of the group who painted them. She has been quite successful exhibiting at local shows and other places and she is proud to have trophies and blue ribbons to show for her work. Some of her painting have gone to homes in Ireland, Africa, England and across Australia.
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Steph Ball (1)
Always reluctant to be called an artist and with no real desire to paint, I was still keen to contribute to the wonderful initiative that is Willo. I have enjoyed transferring photos onto wooden boards and in June 2018 made contact with Willo to see if this would be acceptable. Never did I imagine that a photo of our Merino rams on a cricket bat would be the start of some wonderful friendships and connections all over Australia! Rainbow bats for Will is the third exhibition I’ve been excited to be a part of. Not being patient enough to paint, I enjoy transferring my photos to timber. However, choosing which photograph to transfer to a cricket bat can be a little tricky. Editing farm animals to bring out their character is a lot of fun and I prefer the rustic background of raw timber for these animal portraits.
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Susan McMinn (1)
Dr. Susan McMinn is an award winning professional artist with a PhD in fine art. She has over 10 years of art teaching and tutoring experience, having taught both privately and at CEB Bendigo. McMinn has tutored university students in essay writing and supervised visual arts post graduate students. Her exhibition experience spans over ten years, having shown at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance, Jewish Museum of Australia and at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square. Susan’s works are held in collections both in Australia and Britain. Vietnam” my painting is inspired by items from the collection held at the Bendigo Soldiers Memorial Museum. This image relates to the Vietnam War. Objects including a map and a souvenir are represented in the form of a still life.
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Susan Short (1)
I studied art at RMIT Melbourne. I have worked at the Ouyen Primary School as a teachers aid assisting a student who had disabilities. I then moved to Mildura and worked for Sunraysia Residential services assisting disabled adults with living skills. I have also worked for Community Services Victoria in a similar position with adults, assisting them to live independently. This was with adults who had been moved out of Ararat Institution when it was closed down. I met some beautiful individuals during this time in my life and cherish the memories of assisting them on their life paths. I have always been interested in art, but it wasn’t until I worked with Belinda Eckermann at the Rainbow Secondary College that I began painting again. Since meeting Belinda I have won two art awards and held an exhibition in Mildura. I will always be grateful for her persistence and encouragement or I may never have tried.The bat is made from a tree. The tree symbolism is life and the animals that may utilise it for their existence. Cycle of Life.
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Tammy Bigham (1)
I am from Rainbow, am a mum to 5 fantastic kids and have been creating personalised special occasion cakes for over 10 years. I enjoy having a creative oulet and am looking forward to the challenge of creating an interesting piece using a very different medium to what I’m used to. This bat links a rainbow to butterflies on a vine. The butterflies are the international symbol representing endurance, change, hope and life. The Rainbow represents the Town of Rainbow where I come and the linking of loved ones.
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Teagan Rose (1)
I am from Melbourne, I have been creating art since early ages of Primary school, it wasn’t until I got to high school and I had a inspiring Art teacher Belinda Eckermann, that I discovered my true passion for art. I love to explore in clays and paints to depict what most inspires me, dreams. I have always found a way to describe what I see/feel through memories of dreams. I have chosen my bat design to represent my passion for music. Through my love of music, I felt this bat described my personality and who I am as an individual. It shows other you should be able to express who you are in any way you wish.
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Tracey Smith (1)
I live on a farm near Rainbow. I have always loved to draw faces. I had a Sara Moon portrait and loved that style. I started painting 4 years ago. I love attending art workshops and watching art programs. Renaissance portraits is where you would find me at the art gallery. I had so many ideas for my bat including giving it back to Belinda! I settled on Iconic Rainbow cricketers. Many more than these guys have contributed to the club and their 3 premiership wins. My husband Roger just loved his cricket. We all tagged along and our 3 girls played with the Nuske, Duyndam and Plumb girls and one little Plumb boy Josh. Neville Nuske is just one of those Rainbow legends and great characters. Mick Clugston carted Roger to cricket in his Jag for years when it was hard to get a game and he was the Rainbow Cricket Club personified. Heath is an extraordinary athlete and nice guy. Leroy stepped in where Mick left off and has been an incredible asset to our Town. RCC is in recess and it would be amazing to see it live again one day.
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Wendy Fisher (1)
Some years ago I studied fine arts at Horsham TAFE and Ballarat University as a mature aged student. This has taken me on a great creative journey. I enjoy painting, printmaking and mixed media. This mixed media piece evolved using my hand printed papers, acrylics, inks, and collage, which I am enjoying at the moment.
