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Bowling for Australia
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Most people think of bowling as a recreational activity, something fun to do with family and friends on a night out. For Wyndham Vale resident Rebekah Commane, it’s the reason she’ll be travelling to the United States to compete in The World Games this July. “I got into bowling because my parents were two league followers,” Commane said. “I’m the youngest of four, my siblings before me bowled, so when it came to me it was evident that I was going to be born into bowling.” Despite being “very excited”, Commane said she shed a few tears when she found out she’d be playing for her country. “I haven’t been able to represent Australia for like three years, being able to put the green and gold back on, it’s a very intense feeling.” Commane said most people would be surprised to know the sport is “really competitive” and it’s important to her to “break the mould” and prove bowlers are serious athletes. “I want to break those stereotypes, I want bowling to be more mainstream,” she said. “We’re going to be pushing to get into the Queensland Olympics in 2032.” Rebekah Commane is one of four Australians representing the nation in July.
Local artists brushed out By Fatima Halloum A Wyndham artist is calling out council for its “frustrating” art selection process that she says brushes local artist aside. Creative Angela Hickey believes artists who live outside of Wyndham are paid for works that could instead be produced by people living in the area. “There’s an unfair process for Wyndham artists, for locals. We don’t know about the opportunities, they’re not advertised, there’s no
EOI [Expression of Interest] process,” she said. Hickey said the municipality had “so many great artists” who should be given the opportunity to submit proposals. “I don’t mind if there’s a small percentage of non-locals, that’s just a given. It just happens too often, it needs to change,” she said. “I’ve stood by and watched this over the years and it’s just reached a point … it needs to be shared with us.” Hickey suggests several artists be commissioned for jobs, joining both local and
non-local creatives. “Wouldn’t it be better to actually get the community onboard? Artists that live here?” she said. Wyndham council said many variables were contemplated when selecting a public art piece, “not just the artist’s physical principal place of residence”. “When considering artists for specific areas or works, Wyndham city takes into account a range of considerations including timelines, cost, previous experience, the aesthetics of the space and avoiding disruptions to local
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business,” acting director of city design and liveability Peter McKinnon said. Mr McKinnon said council had a public art allocation of $265,000 for 2021-22, and “many local artists participated in projects”. “Wyndham City’s priority is to develop public art opportunities for local artists through a range of initiatives including Werribee Station Photographic Prints, Wyndham Vale Station, projects with Deakin University and many temporary works, events and programs,” he said.