Sculpture brighten up family centre
A ray of hope in the form of a giant stainless steel girl will light up the Telethon Juvenile Diabetes Family Centre.
British artist Mackenzie Thorpe's sculpture My Sunshine was donated to the centre by Trigg couple Rick and Victoria Malone.
The centre is under construction and is due to open in March.
Mr Malone, who is on the centre's board, said he and his wife believed the work embodied what the centre was about.
The couple first saw the 300kg sculpture at Thorpe's exhibition at Linton and Kay Galleries last month. "Mackenzie Thorpe (via Skype) was explaining about the sculpture with the coat of armour to feel strong and the big boots to feel grounded," Mr Malone said.
"He said he wants every child to look in the face of the sculpture and see themselves."
Centre general manager Rebecca Johnson praised the Malones.
"What an incredibly generous gesture," she said.
Linton and Kay Galleries co- director Gary Kay said Thorpe was a renowned sculptor who was Telethon's official artist.
Claire Tyrrell