Singleton’s centenary statue embodies Service Above Self

By Megan Lobb and David Gausden, Rotary Club of Singleton On Hunter, NSW

When the construction of the Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre coincided with 100 years of Rotary in Australia, the Rotary Club of Singleton on Hunter, NSW, sought to commission an artist to commemorate this milestone and the contribution of Rotarians to the community.

The club has a long tradition of supporting arts in the community through its annual Art Prize, which has just celebrated its 40th year. An acquired artwork from this event is donated each year to the Singleton Collection.

With assistance from the Community Economic Development Fund, administered by Singleton Council, to cover the cost of the sculpture and installation, local blacksmith artist Will Maguire, who has achieved national acclaim for his artworks, was chosen to create a sculpture.

The aim was to enhance community interest in different art forms, to tell a story about the connection between Rotary and the community, to celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Australia, and highlight the community involvement of Rotary clubs.

Will describes his design as “a cluster of individuals – handmade, irregular humans united in a cause and distinct in individual concern for others. A group where its value is greater than the sum of its parts, this arrangement of figures finds its strength collectively in the complex possibilities when viewed and considered from different perspectives.”

The work is durable and low maintenance, designed to be climbed, sat upon, and interacted with. The process of creating the sculpture used blacksmithing techniques that are thousands of years old; skills pass from master to apprentice, generation after generation.

The statue perfectly embodies the continuity of Rotary in Australia and the world as it has evolved through generations of Rotarians taking up the challenge of doing good in the world.

“To me, Rotary is really about people doing good things for people,” said Will. “What I have tried to do is focus on the individual only insofar as it forms a necessary yet incomplete part of the more abstract group. It is only as we observe closer that we see details such as mouths and communicative linkages between the individuals who make it up. This, I hope, can be understood as recognition of the ongoing community building work by Rotary; by individuals embodying the Rotary motto of Service Above Self.”

The Rotary Club of Singleton on Hunter says the artwork is a modern yet timeless piece, which they hope will engage the community in a conversation about Rotary.