With grateful thanks

Bree Galvin, now a true local, shows appreciation of her new home town through her graphic design business, which grew out of lockdown.

By Dianne Dempsey - Photographs by Leon Schoots - Illustrations by Bree Galvin

Bree Galvin couldn’t think of a better place to sit out the long weeks of the coronavirus lockdown than in Bendigo. “I was home-schooling my boys and felt so secure and safe. I know most of the people who live here love it as much as I do. Our architecture, the gardens, the history, that intangible feeling of warmth and generosity.” It was during lockdown that illustrator Bree also launched her graphic design business – This Is Me, Bree – selling prints, family portraits and homewares such as tea towels. It is in her artwork that Bree’s huge affection for Bendigo is clearly evident. Her current print series, Illustrating Bendigo, features typical Bendigo cityscapes that are peopled by family groups from the 1950s. “It’s the Bendigo of the 1950s that I want to summon up,” she says. “It’s a comfort thing. I hope to engender a feeling of warmth and nostalgia; and take people back to a safe time when life seemed to be so much simpler and solid. The Bendigo buildings and landmarks are timeless, they’re the backbone of the work. But the people in the foreground are growing up around the buildings. In one image, I have two lovers picnicking on the lawn in front of the Conservatory. In another print, three actors are stepping out, walking down the steps of The Capital theatre.” Bree says many of her customers discover her illustrations online; mainly through Instagram. “I’ve met so many great people this way,” she says. “I often do family portraits which will be an illustration of the family home and the family members.” Once Bree’s client has decided on an idea, the illustration is digitally printed on beautifully textured, archival paper. Bree can also organise the prints to be framed and uses local businesses when sourcing her materials, including the tea towels. Originally from Seymour, on leaving school Bree went to Melbourne to study, work and play. She was doing an arts degree when the recession hit and, under advice, she opted for a cautious route through life via a job at Telstra. After marriage to an Irishman, she moved to Castlemaine where the couple ran an organic food store. Sadly, there was a distressing family breakdown and Bree gathered her two young boys and moved to nearby Bendigo. Bree’s younger son, 15-year-old Ned, was initially unable to adapt

to conventional schooling so, with the benefit of a carer’s pension, Bree educated him herself from home. Eighteen-year-old Finn is currently studying architecture at TAFE. As a single parent, Bree made the gutsy decision to pack her lunch and take herself off to La Trobe University to study graphic design, a degree course that she completed in 2016. “It took me 20 years and a divorce to make that decision to go to uni – to do what I wanted to do. I had spent so much of my life looking after others and I had this overwhelming feeling that I had to do something for myself. “When I graduated, I was keen to get a job as a graphic designer but I was always older than the other applicants. And I was dismissed out of hand for not being young and funky. I thought my maturity and experience would have been an asset, but no, I was always overlooked for positions despite the prizes I won at uni and the high marks. So I decided to make a go of it as a freelancer. I was thrown back on my own resources. The rejection galvanised me, motivated me to develop my own style. “It was November of last year that I started on the Illustrating Bendigo series. At about this time, I received enormous support from the Bendigo Community Bank, which gave me advice and introductions and enabled me to set up pop-up shops in their bank space. And I currently have a work residency with the Emporium Creative Hub. I have a free desk for three months. I walk around in this beautiful, warm, modern building and pinch myself. “I’m on the cusp of really moving the business along. Now it’s very important that I stay focused and on brand. I can see myself employing my son in the near future in the packaging and distribution side of the business. “We moved to Bendigo 11 years ago and my world has opened up since then on a personal and a professional level. My children and I have a secure future ahead of us. I think this is why the Illustrating Bendigo series gives me such joy; this celebration of Bendigo is like a thank you to Bendigo.” You can find Bree’s work in Percy and Percy, 110 Hargreaves Street, telephone 5442 2997; The Old Post Office Gallery, 51-67 Pall Mall, 5434 6179; Bob Boutique, 17 Williamson Street, 5444 3522; and on Instagram, @thisisme.bree

Errol, Cooper and Emma Gath and Ashlee Haberfield Irina, Ryan and Daniel Reynolds

PEOPLE REMEMBER ON ANZAC DAY

With Anzac Day services returning to some towns and cities, people gathered in the centre of Bendigo to pay their respects at the morning remembrance service at the Soldiers Memorial Institute.

Marches were cancelled across the nation last year and remembrance services restricted to official dignitaries.

Jan Spencely and Fay Bourke Thomas, Adelaide and Andrew Black

Navarre, Proven and Vegas Blake Priya Lewis, Ziggy Naidoo, Hugh Lewis and Jaggar Naidoo

Andrew, Noah, Annie and Elijah Yarnton Amelia, Melissa and Kaiden Norwood

Bailey Davey, Tony Clacy and Jack Harvey

Savanna Smith, Cody Waters and Kahlia Waters Lucas, Andrew and Hunter Vogel, Sarah Wills and Chelsea and Mia Vogel

Cohen and Millie Toll

FUN DAYS SERVED AT EASTER

Bendigo was brimming with Easter activities, with egg-cellent activities abounding throughout the city.

In response to COVID-19 guidelines to keep communities safe, the four-day Eggs-plore Bendigo at Easter program replaced the traditional Easter Festival celebrations this year. These smiling faces say it was a winner.

APPLY ONLINE NOW BOOK A COLLEGE TOUR VISIT VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

Enrolment portal is open. We welcome enrolments from all families in our region. Book online for your small-group tour. Coolock Campus (Junortoun) tours run Tuesdays 5pm and Fridays 9am.

Now live - all welcome! Find out about starting Year 7 at CMC through virtual tours, videos, handy tips, FAQs and more... http://bit.ly/cmcOpenHouse

Alison Greaves, Chris Allan, Drew Crook, Sam Crook and Velia Macdonald Craig Wilson, Nicole Wilson and Ron Crowe

RETURN TO FORM FOR RACE DAY

On a sunny autumn day in March, more than 5000 people headed trackside for the Bendigo Jockey Club’s annual Golden Mile Race Day.

The crowds didn’t disappoint, with fashions veering from the fabulously wacky to the impeccably stylish, as they mingled in the stands and throughout the stunning grounds.

Elissa Morrison, Nigel Starick, Amie Starick, Gavin Curley and Leah Walter

Charmaine Bravington, Adam Schmidt, Chris O’Sullivan and Kristy Nicholls Matt Sawyer, Phil Morrish, Nick Best, Eddy Dickins and Garry Moulday

Trish Slattery, Heather Koch, Marlene Kelly and Maxine Wilkinson

CERTIFICATION #CN438

BEAUTIFUL LIVING SPACES

EPLUS ARCHITECTURE 111 MOLLISON STREET BENDIGO, VICTORIA. 3550

Abbey Britton, Indii Mulcahy and Olivia Dole Banjo, Bili, Peggy and Romy Anthony

Leo and Sophie Kennedy Holly and Destiny Hoggan

Lewis and Madeline Popple and Sophie and Emily Muhlnickel Natahsha and Ashja Broersen

YEAR 7 AT GIRTON

A DECISION FOR NOW, AND A DECISION FOR LATER

A positive start to Secondary School can set the scene for success in later years. But it takes more than a great start to have an excellent finish. At Girton Grammar, a student’s preferred future is considered from the outset. Whatever path a young person wishes to take, ‘best effort’ is always the goal, and with this approach, students reap the rewards in the later years of Secondary School. With the region’s strongest VCE results, explicit teaching of Emotional Intelligence and an extensive cocurricular programme, a great start in Year 7 at Girton leads to exceptional outcomes at graduation. To find out more about how starting at Girton in Year 7 is a decision for now and a decision for later, contact our Registrar on 5441 3114 or email: registrar@girton.vic.edu.au www.girton.vic.edu.au

LITTLE ONES MEET IN THE MALL

There were plenty of giggles, laughter and smiles as children clambered to give out cuddles and pats to their furry and feathered friends at Animals 2U.

The animal farm set up shop in the Hargreaves Mall for the Easter school holidays, with mums and dads equally happy with the city-meets-country vibe.