Summary
Kinglake resident Ray Brasser (blacksmith) and Kinglake West/Pheasant Creek resident Glenn Barlow (woodworker) crafted this sculpture using recycled materials salvaged from Glenn's backyard and Ray's blacksmithing shed, which was destroyed during the 2009 Victorian bushfires. The tree-shaped sculpture has the words 'Thank You' burnt into its wooden base and was designed specifically to be publicly gifted to the people of Victoria at the 'Thank You Melbourne and Victoria' concert held at Federation Square, Melbourne, on 7 April 2010.
Organised by locals from the bushfire-affected Kinglake Ranges and surrounding communities (all directly or indirectly affected by the 2009 Victorian Bushfires), the Thank You Melbourne and Victoria concert saw musicians, poets and artists delivering 10 hours of music and storytelling in order to thank the people of Melbourne and Victoria for their moral support, donations and practical assistance in the wake of Black Saturday. The concert was organised at a grassroots level by a handful of locals from the Kinglake Ranges, on behalf of all communities affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. It was supported by the Victorian State Government, the City of Melbourne, Federation Square and a range of small corporate donors.
The event was opened by Victorian Opposition leader Ted Baillieu, with an appearance from Chief Commissioner of the Victorian Police, Christine Nixon. During the only official part of day's proceedings, the 'Thank You Gift' was presented by its makers on behalf of the Victorian Bushfire area' to the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, who accepted it on behalf of the people of Victoria. It was transferred by the Victorian Premier to Museum Victoria in June 2010.
Physical Description
Metal and wood tree-shaped sculpture. The sculpture is supported on a rounded wooden (blackwood) base that has a gold, hand-engraved dedication plaque attached. The base of the tree is crafted from a piece of semi-burnt wood. Handcrafted metal leaves sprout from this base, which also supports a metal tree trunk with two metal, leafless branches.
Significance
This sculpture was created by residents of the Kinglake Ranges - a region that was severely affected by the Black Saturday fires. Not only is the sculpture a direct and permanent connection to the events of Black Saturday, but it is also an evocative symbol of hope, renewal and recovery. With Ray's blacksmithing shed in ruins, Ray and Glenn started to make the Thank You Gift in a temporary blacksmith shed that had no walls. During the process of working on this sculpture, however, the inspiration grew to rebuild the shed. The Thank You Gift not only represents the efforts of two bushfire-affected individuals to rebuild their own lives and surroundings, but also provides a tangible example of the ways in which bushfire-affected communities have worked together with art, music, poetry and storytelling to channel their grief and importantly, to tell stories that are difficult to convey with words.
The Thank You Gift also tells a story about those who were not directly bushfire-affected, but who donated moral support, donations and practical assistance in the wake of Black Saturday. While much of the public attention following Black Saturday was understandably focused on the bushfire-affected areas and associated stories of loss and destruction, the Thank You Melbourne and Victoria concert had a different message; it was focused on making sure that 'acts of generosity - and in particular the children that broke open their money boxes and gave their heartfelt savings - be recognised publicly.' As the physical manifestation of this public acknowledgement, the Thank You Gift is a powerful symbol of the importance of community support following a natural disaster, as well as the healing power of communal storytelling.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Strategic Communication, Engagement & Protocol, Governance Policy & Coordination, Department of Premier and Cabinet, 21 Jun 2010
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Presented To
Right Honourable John Brumby MP - State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 21/06/2010
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Creator
Glenn Barlow, Kinglake West/Pheasant Creek, Victoria, Australia, April 2010
Glenn, a CFA officer and woodworker, fought the Black Saturday fires in the Kinglake region, and was involved in an incident whereby his firetruck ran out of water during a fire storm, and Glenn nearly lost his life. In the wake of Black Saturday he opened his house to many who had lost their homes and loved ones, and became actively involved in organising the Thank You Melbourne and Victoria concert, as well as collaborating with Ray Brasser to create the Thank You Gift. -
Creator
Ray Brasser, Kinglake, Victoria, Australia, April 2010
Ray Brasser is a blacksmith who had been living in the Kinglake Ranges for nine years before Black Saturday swept through and destroyed his blacksmithing shed. Ray collaborated with Glenn Barlow to create the Thank You Gift from recycled materials that were salvaged from the remains of his shed. -
Inscriptions
A hand-engraved plaque is attached to the base of the sculpture, reading: 'On behalf of the Victorian Bushfire Areas, We present this gift to the People of Victoria, Made by, RAY BRASSER, GLEN BARLOW.' The words 'Thank You' are burnt into the wood.
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Classification
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
335 mm (Width), 350 mm (Height), 335 mm (Outside Diameter)
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Keywords
Black Saturday Bushfires, 2009, Bushfires, Death & Mourning, Natural Disasters, Natural Environment, Poetry, Publications, Victorian State Premiers