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11 APRIL, 2023
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Book comes to life in 3D
Scenic artist Paul Anthony, Heather Anthony and photographer Lawrence Winder. (Damjan Janevski) 326158_01
The Lesley Batchelor Gallery in Ballan is holding an exhibition to showcase artworks that accompany the latest book by a Moorabool author. Heather Anthony’s second book, ‘Gnat’s Journey to Home’, is being launched at the gallery on Saturday, April 22. Instead of using regular illustrations to create the children’s book, Anthony created three dimensional models, using mostly recycled materials. The book took over three years to make and was photographed over seven months. Paul Anthony painted the backdrops which include iconic Australian imagery such as the Glass House Mountains in QLD and the Wurrumbungles in NSW. Anthony said local life is captured in the work, with many of the models named after Moorabool residents including a family from the local cafe, the local grocer, and her husband appearing as “Papa Ratzo”. From April 21 to 23, the exhibition will showcase the original models. “[Modeling] some of the scenes are really interesting problems to have that have created some really funny moments in the book,” Anthony said. “It’s a lot of fun, the world is too serious sometimes.”
$41m capital works plan By Liam McNally The Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve, Ballan Library and Bacchus Marsh Bowls Club are among the big winners in Moorabool council’s proposed 2023-24 budget. Council adopted its draft budget at a meeting on April 5, with the document available for public feedback until May 4. Council is proposing to spend $41 million on capital works next financial year, aimed at “a mix between the need to maintain existing
infrastructure and build new assets to meet community expectations”. The biggest billed project proposed in the budget is include $7.5 million for the Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve, with $6 million going towards stage one of the pavilion, and $950,000 for stage two, and another $563,000 for cricket training nets. Other major works include $5.9 million for a new Ballan Library, $5.2 million for a West Maddingley early years facility, and $3.4 million for the Bacchus Marsh Bowls Club Pavilion and Bowling Green.
The draft budget also plans for reconstruction of Hogan Road and Densley Street in Ballan for $1.8 million, a $1.6 million Bald Hill Redevelopment, $1.5 million for council’s annual reseal program, more than $850,000 to reconstruct Ballan-Egerton Road in Mount-Edgerton, and the renovation of Bungaree Oval for more than $640,000. It is proposed that emergency services expenditure will drop from $3.68 million in 2022-23 to $205,000 in 2023-24 and road and off-road maintenance will reduce by $722,000.
Council said these reductions are due to major flood events in recent years which required funding injection that aren’t planned for in the proposed budget. The draft budget also proposed reductions in education and care services by $246,000, and youth services by $200,000. “Despite the financial challenge this poses, council is determined to maintain and enhance its services, while working within the cap. Council is also determined in its efforts to keep financial pressure on the community to a minimum,” the budget states.
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