THE people of Violet Town are quietly celebrating after being awarded a national art award last week.
The Southern Aurora Memorial received the Gold Award for the Best Monument or Memorial at the 2022 Australian Street Art Awards, announced from Queensland's Sunshine Coast on Friday evening.
The moving memorial which includes pieces by Tim Bowtell, Lachlan Cumming and Chris Mann nudged out the Wandoan Soldier Settlers Precinct and its artworks in the Western Downs of Queensland, which took the Silver Award, and Bronze winner 'Neighbour', a mural by Jesse Bell in Katherine which memorialises Ayaiga, an Alawa man from Hodgson Downs who was the first Indigenous Australian to be awarded the prestigious British Empire's King Albert Medal.
Awards director Liz Rivers was full of praise for the memorial.
"This unique memorial contributes significantly to making Australia a more vibrant, creative and interesting country – somewhere visitors want to explore more keenly," she said.
"Smart communities promote their outdoor art, including monuments and memorials, as a unique landmark – an attraction that visitors can see in only one place, and that makes their destination immediately identifiable, highly attractive and a drawcard for art–loving tourists."
In commenting on Southern Aurora Memorial Violet Town's win, the judges congratulated everyone involved in keeping the memory and history of the Southern Aurora train rescue alive through the development of these Memorial Gardens.
"How the people of Violet Town banded together without delay and the bravery, kindness and humanity the community exhibited in saving so many lives is a story that every Australian should know and these Memorial Gardens play an important role in that education," the judges said.
The Southern Aurora Memorial project commenced in 2018 after many chats between Gary Abley and Bruce Cumming about the need to better remember the Southern Aurora Disaster of February 1969 and the significant impact it had on many people, while clearly acknowledging the amazing voluntary efforts at the time.
A call for design ideas, committee members and volunteers generated much momentum.
The resulting overall concept was to hold a 50th anniversary event in 2019, and create a well–designed memorial garden space on a large piece of unused railway land in Cowslip Street.
"The garden space has been carefully designed and built as a calm and reflective space providing both artistic interpretations and factual information," Southern Aurora project historian Bruce Cumming said.
"The committee wanted to create a space to help survivors, volunteers, the public, railway people, emergency services and their families to reflect and learn about a national tragedy which was at risk of fading from public consciousness.
"It has been heart–warming to meet visitors to the garden from all over Australia, and to read entries in our Facebook page and our visitors book.
"It's very gratifying to see the good that has been achieved by our combination of art, design and story–telling: never under–estimate the value of art to touch hearts and minds."
Pam Robinson AM, a strong project supporter and past Shire President of Violet Town and Warrenbayne Farmer, was thrilled to hear about the Award while attending an international conference in Canada.
"I want to pass on my congratulations to the committee and Violettonians for using the arts to create a wonderful space of reflection, remembrance and respect of peoples response to a huge tragedy," she said.
"I feel very honoured that the Southern Aurora Memorial Committee has been awarded the top prize for Street Art in the category of Memorials and Monuments," Gary Abley, chair of Southern Aurora Memorial Committee said.
"We were excited when we were announced as finalists in January in the Australian Street Art Awards, so to take out a top gong really is icing on the cake.
"I really want to pay tribute to all the creative people, those who helped guide us through their art and design especially Tim Bowtell, Lach Cumming and Chris Mann.
"I want to thank our small but dedicated Southern Aurora committee for their voluntary efforts."
