MEDIA RELEASE - Heritage icon pays tribute to the agricultural industry
September 2015
The Shire of Manjimup has publicly unveiled the Apple Picker heritage icon, taking place on Saturday 19 September in Manjin Park, Manjimup.This is the fourth heritage icon on display around the Shire, in a series that will continue to grow to tell the story of our region's resilience under the themes of people, settlement, industry and life.
"The purpose of the heritage trail of icons is to tell real life stories about real places and people. They are a dedication to our heritage, a way of preserving the stories and foundations of our Shire, whilst drawing the all-important links between each of our towns," explained Shire President Wade DeCampo.
The icons are all designed and created in the same style, primarily by local artist Tony Windberg. A silhouette of an historical figure at work is cut into a steel plate, which over time develops an even coating of red-brown rust. Each icon, including the Apple Picker, also features a stainless steel interpretive panel that provides a brief glimpse into the history behind the artwork.
"The Apple Picker icon represents not only the history of apples in the region, but the histories of all orchards and the agricultural heritage that has bought the Shire to its current status as the 'food bowl' of WA," said Cr DeCampo.
To date the Shire has installed three icons. On the corner of Middleton Road and South Western Highway, Cattle Trails depicts the annual movement of family cattle herds to the coast. The Walpole Cream Truck, on South Western Highway in Walpole, tells the story of the cream truck that travelled from Walpole to Manjimup to take the cream to the butter factory. That same truck also transported people between the two towns, and undertook errands and purchases for locals. At Northcliffe the Doc Ryan icon tells just a little of the life and work of this extraordinary man, and medical pioneers of the district.
"Each icon shows somebody at work and depicts the qualities demonstrated by the Shire's forbearers - qualities that we can all aspire to: perseverance, innovation and resilience," said Cr DeCampo.
The Shire plans to unveil its fifth icon, Manjimup Butter Factory, before the end of this year.
