Massive testament in granite
When the final carved block of pink granite is lowered into place in Wudinna in South Australia's central Eyre Peninsula, the people of the district will have not just a work of art but also, it's hoped, a tourist attraction that will draw in visitors from everywhere.
The Australian Farmer sculpture is the creation of Sydney-based sculptor Marijan Bekicbut and has been a dream of both the artist and local residents for 15 years. Once completed, he'll reach an extraordinary eight metres into the sky, making him almost certainly the tallest farmer in the country. And at 400 tonnes, the heaviest. A recent $60,000 contribution from the Le Hunte Council gave the work of art the green light and a major fundraising campaign is now underway to raise a further $80,000 to complete it in time for unveiling next April.
The Australian Farmer is seen as a tribute to the tenacity of the region's farmers who have endured a long, bitter drought. Once completed, names of local families who have shaped and developed the local region will be added to the monumental work.
