A NATIONWIDE competition encouraging creatives to develop designs for a planned Continuous Voices Memorial has been launched.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0<\/span>memorial would be the first in Australia\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>survivors of sexual violence and is planned for Victoria Park beside Lake Two.<\/span><\/p>\n Continuous Voices Community Reference Group\u00a0<\/span>member Blake Curran\u00a0<\/span>said the space could be a place for survivors, their families, and friends to visit to reflect and heal, as well as something that starts conversations.<\/span><\/p>\n Mr\u00a0<\/span>Curran lost his father Peter to depression after he had been abused as a child at Catholic institutions in Ballarat.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis memorial will not only be a space to remember our victims of abuse that are no longer with us but will be a place to recognise the lasting impact that abuse of this nature has on the wider community,\u201d Mr Curran said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe serenity of the space is not lost on us who visit the site. The calm nature of the waterways and the abundance of natural life allow all visitors to feel a sense of belonging to something much larger than themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m the father of a seven and nine-year-old who don\u2019t have a grandfather anymore, and I\u2019m hoping to take them to this space once it\u2019s complete.<\/p>\n \u201cThe survivor community in Ballarat is opening up conversations with the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n As part of the design competition, three successful creatives will be given $5000 to continue to develop their idea alongside the Continuous Voices Community Reference Group, before a final design is selected in May.<\/p>\n City of Melbourne\u2019s Creative Urban Places Program lead David Fitzsimmons is panel chair of the competition.<\/p>\n \u201cThe selection of a prominent and peaceful site in Victoria Park provides for creation of a place, of national significance, offering sanctuary and solace for all those affected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe expert panel for the selection of the design for the memorial is committed to offering all their support to assist in the establishment of a place which not only recognises the gravity of individual experience but also a sense of collective love and hope.\u201d<\/p>\n The first part of the competition will close on Friday 2 February, with the three shortlisted options announced before 1 March.<\/p>\n The memorial currently has $520,000 worth of funding from the City of Ballarat, $500,000 from the State Government, but needs a further $500,000 to be finished.<\/p>\n The plan is to see it complete by some time in 2026.<\/p>\n