Silo Art Trail PATCHEWOLLOCK

The day was forecast with rain and  wind and in the dry Wimmera that translated to dust!

The road ahead

Waiting out a gust at the Patchewollock Silo

Clearing after almost 10 minutes!!

This was the longest stretch almost an hour's travel!!
Established in 1914, Patchewollock originated from two aboriginal words "putje" meaning plenty and "wallah" meaning porcupine grass. 
The first thing we saw was the 2 big Malle Fowl  around a large mound nest. The big Mallee Fowls are constructed from corrugated iron and painted to give the impression of feathers.
The sculptures which were installed by artist Phil Rigg in 2013 who has lots of stuff in Lascelles as well .

The Malleefowl belong to the Megapode family that use external heat sources to hatch their eggs. Malleefowl use decomposing vegetation during spring and solar heated sand in midsummer to hatch eggs inside large mounds. A pair of adults might hatch up to 200 chicks during their lifetime, but the species is struggling to survive. Malleefowl have faced significant and catastrophic loss of habitat to clearing and severe fragmentation of what remains. The chicks and adults endure drought and predation from birds of prey and introduced pests such as foxes and cats. Fire can quickly destroy vast areas of suitable habitat, requiring maybe 15 years for the birds to return to burnt habitat, and 30-40 years for the habitat to be suitable for breeding. 
After the dust settled we walked over to the Silo.

The painting by Fintan Macgee of local sheep farmer and shearer Nick  Hulland 

Magee says Mr Hulland was judged slim enough to fit the two narrow silos, and had "that classic farmer look", embodying the locals' spirit. The mural also depicts a tree dying and new growth to represent the bush life cycle. 

The painting by Fintan Macgee of local sheep farmer and shearer Nick  Hulland 

The local store where we retreated between the dust for a cup of tea

Magee says Mr Hulland was judged slim enough to fit the two narrow silos, and had "that classic farmer look", embodying the locals' spirit. The mural also depicts a tree dying and new growth to represent the bush life cycle. 
Mr Hulland, whose grandfather settled in 'Patche' under the post World War I soldier settlement scheme, said if the Patchewollock mural "promotes our little town in any way, that's good. Our little town is slowly dying so we've got to do what we can to keep it going," he says. 
The school closed in 2006 and the population has shrunk.
Its two shops closed, although one re-opened (essentials and petrol ) and is community-run. 
The wheat silos are of course decommissioned.
Mr Hulland said the last two or three farming seasons had been tough due to drought, although they had been "terrible" for farms 100km to the south.

After  a refuel I was given the key to the pump then when i went in she asked me how much its was!)
As we had a cup of tea we met a woman who knew Nick, was actually renting on his lot!
We headed to Woomelang just as the rain started 
My filthy car was soon clean!