Ballarat Heritage Festival 2025

Selected highlights from the final two days of the Ballarat Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25.  

Predominantly featured are local legends, the Ballarat People Who Promenade, of which, by virtue of a Royal Decree from HRH Queen Victoria (Megan Finlayson, pictured below, right) Shane Jones (pictured above) and I (pictured top) are loyal members. 

Incidentally, my fine designer hat, which dates from the 1940s, was inherited from my late aunt, Ballarat-born Eileen Klein. The fob watch pinned to my coat (not clearly shown in most photos) belonged to my aunt too. Shane’s antique walking stick was also passed down from the Klein family. Very possibly it was originally purchased in Ballarat.

Traditionally the Promenaders meet at the statue of Queen Victoria in Sturt Street. There we toast Her Royal Highness on the occasion of her birthday, which falls on May 24. This year she turned 206. Happy Birthday, Queen Victoria!

From here we promenaded to the Old Colonists Club for afternoon tea, followed by a leisurely stroll to Ballarat Railway Station, a short walk away.

Thank you, HRH Megan and Stationmaster Bryan Putt for inviting us to join your merry band. We had a ball and can’t wait to do it again next year. 

EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES: a linocut in progress

Pictured above and below are selected progress views of my current linocut. It’s intended for a group exhibition and print exchange comprising relief prints by 55 artists that’s scheduled for early next year. However, because its curator, Rona Green, will need ample time to organise numerous aspects of the project, including framing and collating all the works for the portfolios, our print editions are due to be completed and delivered by early August 2025. 

The title of the exhibition/print exchange is Irrepressible. My work is entitled Everything’s Coming Up Roses.