Spirit of the Sea water feature

On Tuesday 11 November 2008 the public appeal for the Spirit of the Sea water feature started in full force at the Dannebrog Cafe Bar and Grill. and the website with all the information about the project was launched: www.spiritofthesea.com.au. You might be surprised to learn, that despite the myths in the community that this project still needs funding. It is not a council project, it is a project BY THE COMMUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

Just to set the facts straight, the story started close to 4 years ago when one man saw one sculpture in the making and had a thought for it to be put on the breakwater.This man got together with his service club and they got together with other clubs and organisations. The man was George Russell, and his service club was the City of Devonport Lions Club. The statue, which will become a water feature with seawater flowing over it, is what is now known as the Spirit of the Sea and artist was Aden McLeod, a resident of Devonport . A 20-person committee was formed representing all the interested parties.

One thing led to another, a place was found for this water feature with the - on private land (Tas Ports ) - and council approval was sought. Just like anybody erecting any kind of structure, it requires council approval. The statue erection was eventually approved after long and careful consideration of the Devonport Council . To raise the kind of money required to realise this project the committee went looking for avenues of funding. They applied for grants and managed to secure one from the Tasmania state government. And as any-one doing a large public project would, they now started a public appeal to cover the remaining funds required. It has taken almost 4 years of hard work to get this far.

The controversy that has some people up in arms raises valid questions if this was in fact a council project, but it is not a council project. It is a private project initiated by the community to aid the community. Statues and prominent features have long been identified with cities, from the litte Manneken Piss in Brussels that draws millions of tourists to Belgium each year, to the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Eiffel tower in Paris. Some argue that the artist is not a native Tasmanian, or that the artwork is not good enough; beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and not everybody likes the same. When the statue itself was on display at Aden McLeod's Devonport Showground studio the visitors book was overflowing with positive comments.

The Spirit of the Sea was 'discovered' and thought suitable as a base for a water feature on Aikenhead Point at the end of the foreshore, at the entrance of the Mersey river . Thousands of people agree. There are many other pieces of art and notable tourist attractions  in our region that have been erected with the help of government or council grants that people may question the aesthetics of, and that is OK, we need variety. Variety is intrinsically what art is all about; there is no formulae for taste. But if anyone cares to undertake a huge project like this they ought to be commended, and they will find that many service clubs will probably even offer their support.

When The Spirit I or II sails in or out of Devonport  many tourists will come on deck and take pictures of the glistening water feature that will become synonymous with Devonport. When sailers and fishermen go in and out of port they will smile at the Spirit of the Sea as it welcomes them home or wishes them well on their journey. When tourists get off the Spirit I and II they will want to take a closer look and have a reason to go into town and not turn onto the highway to go straight to Cradle and Sheffield and Deloraine and Strahan... Tourists can park at the Maritime museum and walk over, or have a BBQ at the Vietnam memorial and wander over. With the water flowing over the statue it will be a much photographed feature on the point.

In case people think Devonport has room for only one tourist feature, look at Vienna . A city that has hundreds of artistic attraction from any vantage point, and although we are not Vienna, we do not only have space, but we have a great need to dress up our fore-shore area! The more the merrier, and if other projects can be initiated, maybe an art-contest to beautify the area, then anyone or any organisation has the right to initiate that, seek funding and approval and do something to built the town we live in. Moreover, it is likely that the same people behind The Spirit of the Sea will be just as supportive for any other tourist attraction or feature to beautify or enhance the town we live in.

Pictured above is the dedicated committee consisting of respected leaders of our community who all believe that The Spirit of the Sea water-feature will mean a significant boost to Devonport and Tasmania , and through the grant approval this view is endorsed by the Tasmanian Government and the Devonport Council which went through a thorough approval process.