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Archies opening weekend

Josh Farrell

MORE than 1000 visitors poured through the doors of Gippsland Art Gallery Sale on the opening weekend of the Archibald Prize exhibition. Gallery director Simon Gregg said it was an important moment for the gallery, and something he had fought for since its major refurbishment. “It’s an opportunity to showcase the gallery at Sale and the whole region to the rest of the state,” he said. “Its going to bring people to the gallery who may not have been here before.” When Mr Gregg initially contacted the gallery of New South Wales with the idea of hosting the Archibald in Sale, he was told it would not be likely until 2025. With persistence, the exhibition was brought to Gippsland earlier than expected, allowing it to become a part of the region’s economic recovery after drought, the 2019 bushfires, floods and COVID. Wellington Shire mayor Cr Garry Stephens said the arrival of the Archibald was an opportunity to showcase the region.

“It raises the profile of the whole of Gippsland, not just Wellington Shire,” he said. “There are a lot of people who don’t really know where Gippsland is or what it has got. “Every coffee, sandwich, glass of wine or a night’s accommodation is a benefit to small business. “It is not only going to be just Sale, because I think people might use this as a trip to see the region — especially if they are regional.” Project manager Melanie Caple said the exhibition was important to the region. “Having it in this really beautiful place really cements Gippsland as a cultural destination,” she said. “Yes, we are excited to introduce Melburnians to the gallery, but we are really excited to introduce Gippslanders to the gallery. “It is so special to have the art up on the wall and to have everyone be able to engage with it. Ms Caple said quite a few artists were emotional

Wellington Shire mayor G ra ry Ste hphens and Archibald project manager Melanie Caple are delighted with the public response to the Archibald Prize exhibition to date.

thinking about the fact that their paintings were actually going to be on display. “One point of entering the prize is to obviously win, but the other is to share your art with the general public,” she said. When visitors walk into the gallery they are greeted by the winning piece by Peter Wegner, depicting 100 year-old former Archibal Prize winner Guy Warren, who took out the prize in 1985. “I chose to paint him because he is one of the most remarkable centenarians I have ever met,” Mr Wegner said. “He still finds purpose in working in his studio daily, one of the traits he attributes to his longevity.” Other eye-catching pieces include the Sea Within by Julia Ciccarone, a self-portrait which took out the People’s Choice Award. The artwork depicts the artist wrapped in a blanket, resting their head on a suitcase which their father brought to Australia from Italy. The Packing Room Prize for this year was the piece from Kathrin Longhurst, depicting Kate Ceberano in a vast print that instantly catches the eye with a strong red background. Many residents may recognise the piece from the Archibald’s advertising, as it encapsulates its subject in a way that shows her deep concerns and worries for the future. Visits were spread over multiple viewing periods during the weekend, to ensure COVID safe practices were adhered to. The Archibald will provide the chance for Gippslanders to make an event out of attendance. They can be picked up by the free Archibald bus around town at sites such as the train station and the clocktower. Once they have finished exploring the gallery they can attend the pop-up Art Bar for a drink and local food, overlooking the Port of Sale. Mr Gregg said if Melbournians were able to get out of lockdown before the show ended they would be able to get so many more visitors to the gallery. “We will be able to go up to 150 people per space,” he said. “That is when the whole town will come alive.” The 52 portraits on display until November 21.

Port TAFE build is progressing well

THE $25 million new Port of Sale TAFE Gippsland campus continues to take shape in Sale, and is on track to open next year. TAFE Gippsland’s chief executive officer, Grant Radford, said the campus build was progressing well. “We are delighted to have had a large number of local Gippsland contractors working on this project right from the beginning, and they have contributed significantly to the success of the project so far,” he said. “It will be deeply satisfying to see our new training facility open for business in 2022 and finally become a reality for our Wellington Shire community, with a few delays as we have faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Mr Radford said the Port of Sale campus would be “readily accessible” to students and deliver on the training needs of the local business sector, industry partners and the Wellington community. It will feature purpose-built facilities for courses including health and social services, early childhood, carpentry, engineering and automotive and trade, accommodating new and existing students from the current Fulham campus. Eastern Victoria MLC Jane Garrett described the new campus as a “game-changer” for local jobseekers, Gippsland businesses and industry. “It will ensure a highly skilled pipeline of workers that will contribute to our community,” she said. Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien also welcomed progress on the site, saying he had The Port of Sale TAFE campus takes shape.

Photo: John Morgan campaigned for the new campus since being elected, adding The Nationals had committed to building it in 2017 before the state government later came on board. “This is a project the community has thrown its support behind for a number of years and I’m delighted to see it coming to fruition,” he said. Mr O’Brien said the location of the new campus on the former netball courts was far more accessible than the Fulham campus, and he hoped this would boost enrolments. Free TAFE delivery will be enhanced at the Port of Sale campus, giving students access to low-cost training. Courses will include the popular early childhood and care course, which experienced an increase in enrolments of 360 per cent at TAFE Gippsland in the first two years of Free TAFE. The initiative has also helped boost access to training for Victorians of diverse backgrounds, with the highest increases at TAFE Gippsland among Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse students, women and people with disabilities. Mr Radford said Sale-based staff and students had also benefited from an expansion and refurbishment of TAFE’s centrally-located Flexible Learning Centre campus, along with the retention of the Gtec campus, which delivers VCE and VCAL studies. The Port of Sale TAFE Gippsland campus, at its Punt Lane and York St location, is funded by the state government. Construction began in late 2020. The facility was designed by GHD Woodhead Architecture and is being built by McCorkell Constructions, with support from 28 local contractors.

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