Statue to celebrate female war medico

LINTON has been announced as one of six Victorian towns that will take part in the State Government’s Victorian Women’s Public Art Program.

The $1 million initiative is aiming to increase the amount of public artwork celebrating women across the state, and Linton’s contribution will acknowledge the efforts of local war surgeon and paediatrician Dr Vera Scantlebury.

Member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, announced the project at its future location on Linton’s Avenue of Honour, and said it was important to celebrate the achievements of Victoria’s exceptional women.

“In Ballarat, there are more horses than there are women in statues. It’s interesting because those women are out there and those historians amongst us will know that,” she said.

“There’s been some extraordinary women and they just don’t get celebrated and I think we all know very well the line you can’t be it if you don’t see it.

“I know for the generations coming behind us it’s incredibly important they understand what women did to create this wonderful society and culture we live in.”

The Linton statue will receive over $117,000 from the program, with input provided by the Linton and District Historical Society, while artist Lucy McEachern has been chosen to sculpt the work.

The piece will comprise a bronze sculpture which McEachern said will be “life-size and stylised.”

“She was only five [feet] five [inches] so she’ll be on a platform for extra height in her army kit with her badges and hat and everything,” she said.

“It’s important to give her elegance and presence because she’s such an important figure for this town.”

Development on the statue is already underway and it is expected to be completed in November this year.