General News
28 August, 2025
Hopetoun exhibition opens with record crowd
An enthusiastic crowd admired the skills of Hopetoun Patchwork members at the launch of their latest community project: three quilted banners titled 'Growth'.
The quilted works of differing sizes and colours embody the environment and landscape of Hopetoun and district over the seasons, with the largest banner overlaid with a map of the town's streets and rail line.
Yarriambiack Shire Council mayor Kylie Zanker officially launched the banners in Hopetoun Powerhouse Arts Studio and praised the initiative and skills of people involved in the three-year project, led by former textiles teacher Nina Gould.
Mrs Gould said she suspected there were some reservations from the patchworkers when they realised the project meant ripping up metres of fabric into strips and also creating the tiniest of squares.
Members supplied or paid for all materials used.
About 40 attended the evening on Friday night and praised the banners and the women involved.
They will remain a permanent display on the walls of the Power House Art Studio.
Patchworker Kerry Koop, now of Mildura, presented Cr Zanker with a book titled 'Growth', which she created and has photographs of the many stages of the project.
She also showed the photos from the book at the launch and outlined the processes involved.
Cr Zanker also officially opened an exhibition in the studio, which coincided with the launch of the banners titled: Recycle and Renew.
This included an array of items from fencing wire and old fence droppers to used fabrics, denim jeans and other unwanted household items.
Former Hopetoun resident and skilled sewer, Olinda Poulton, now of Shepparton, drew many positive comments on her display of Wearable Art, outfits made entirely from items found on farms, including white materials made into a wedding dress.
Mrs Poulton also had a display of bags made from unwanted denim jeans.
A class before the exhibition also allowed attendees to showcase their denim bags.
Other people to display items from recycled items were Hopetoun Patchwork Group president Lynne Gould, Patchewollock farmer Wal Ferguson, needle worker Alice Gove of Mildura and Faye Smith of Horsham, a former teacher at Hopetoun High School, who demonstrated material-covered rope baskets from used fabric.
Mrs Gould said she was delighted with the number who attended the opening night and their positive comments about the banner project.
One of the patchwork group members noted that the people's response was excellent throughout the weekend.
"Well, it's been going good overall, and it's been a worthy exhibition, "she said.
"The visitors put their names and comments in the visitors' book, and we had some excellent comments. We also had a supper, and it went well."
Woomelang residents Collie and Paul Cartwright provided refreshments for the opening night.
The exhibition continued from Saturday to Tuesday of this week, with a handsome number of people visiting each day.