Stanley
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Thu 6 Nov 2014 23:57
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Stanley – “The Big
Bird”
  En route
to Lightning Ridge, after many a mile of
arid, bushy, massive
countryside...........
 ............. you suddenly come up to
Stanley on the
right.
“It’s no secret Aussies like to build
big things.....” A story taken from Outback, a leaflet produced for
Lightning Ridge visitors.
  With a ton of scrap metal, three
collected Volkswagen bodies and a pair of rusting
satellite dishes sculpted into a colossal Emu standing at eighteen metres tall
towering over the Castlereagh Highway – artist John Murray from Lightning Ridge
has certainly trumped the “Big Things” register with this jaw dropping, traffic
stopping big bird sculpture “Stanley.”
Whilst travelling along the lonesome
Birdsville Track back in 2007 John began to envision a massive emu statue
looming over the road ahead of him. John began to draft ideas into a plan to
build Stanley out of scrap metal. This idea soon grew to be the vehicle for some
quality bush style male bonding! A public art installation of gigantic
proportions. As momentum grew the vehicle picked up more volunteering
passengers. First to jump on board was Tim Parsons, the welder and co creator of
the sculpture. Whilst visiting John’s Gallery, Tim saw the conceptual painting
of Stanley and fell in love with the idea, he uttered the words “Gee I’d love to
be involved in that” – these words have become the catch-cry of everyone
involved in the creation of “The Big Bird”.
   Next to join the venture was Stan
Single, Stanley’s namesake. Stan donated and sourced VW bodies and recycled
steel from the Dubbo Police Station for Stanley’s legs.
Soon willing locals came forth
wanting to be part of the project – Lightning Ridge is famous for its “can-do”
attitude, never waiting for things to happen, rather making them happen. And
this became evident once again as Stanley took place. All of the workers,
labour, steel, VW’s, materials – pretty much everything involved in the venture
– were donated.
“Stanley” provided all the
ingredients for the perfect blokes adventure; a four year blur of vintage
vehicles salvaged from old sheds, rusty hunks of recycled steel, welding,
trucks, cranes, drilling rigs. Not to mention the beers as the sun went down and
the sculpture landed on his feet in September 2012.
  Stanley has sparked the interest of
everyone and got other thinking “I can do that.” The team are excited to
announce that “Sculpture by the Highway” is coming – you will soon see
incredible sculptures of all kinds trailing you along the Castlereagh Highway,
and who knows even beyond. This has the capacity to be HUGE, watch this
space!!!
“Sculptures by the Highway” is
proudly supported by the Walgett Shire Council.
 ALL IN ALL CERTAINLY A BIG
BIRD
AN INTERESTING USE OF A VW
BEETLE |