Sculptures raise the profile of platypus colony

A PADDLE of cardboard platypus sculptures has arrived at Lerderderg Library to celebrate the local colony.

The Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance was loaned the works by artist Taro Iiayama and they are as large as five metres long.

The works are suspended above the heads of library users.

“The sculptures were originally part of an exhibition at the Benalla Art Gallery,” alliance president Dr Jodie Valpied said.

“Once that was over, [Taro Iiayama] was wishing for them to be used for community education about platypus by a group that would use them to raise community awareness.

“We worked with Taro to secure the platypus sculptures and eventually transport them down to Bacchus Marsh.”

Iiayama was born in Tokyo and has lived in Australia for more than 20 years.

His artworks centre around the importance of protecting the environment, and he makes objects from common and recycled materials.

“My work normally reflects the relationship between humans and the animal world,” he said.

“I like using recycled material to support nature… we all have to give back.”

Dr Valpied said she hopes the sculptures will raise awareness about the local colony and also provide opportunities for education.

“We hope it increases the community’s awareness even further that we have platypus living in the Werribee River and parts of the Lerderderg River,” she said.

“There has been an increase in community awareness through the projects we’ve run so far but we hope this will reach an even wider audience.

“We will be using them as catalyst or focus for a range of community education events including a community launch that we’ll be holding, most likely in September.”

The sculptures are viewable from Monday to Saturday during library opening hours.

The installation was made possible with the support of Marshall’s Removals and grants from Moorabool Shire Council, Melbourne Water, Bacchus Marsh Community Bank, and Australian Platypus Conservancy.