KOALA number 61 of the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail has been revealed to the public.
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Designed by Port Macquarie artist Yvonne Kiely, Mandy adorns the entry way to Oliver’s Real Food at the Gateway Service Centre (the donut).
The design features mandala symbols and aims to bring healing power to the community, Yvonne explained.
“She’s all about love. The mandala is spiritual for healing and Mandy has one on her front,” she said.
“She also has flannel flowers, the symbol for mental health, and hearts on her ears.”
Over 100 hours went in to create Mandy and Yvonne was happy to see her in a busy spot.
“She is all about health and love and peace, and this is a place a lot of people will see her,” she said.
Store manager Suzanne Blanch was thrilled to have Mandy in her shop.
“Being a local I was already aware of the koala trail,” she said.
“We are here to support the local activities that go on. There are a lot of people who are on the roads who don’t know the importance of koalas and the environment, and we are very happy to have her here.”
Project director Margret Meagher had been scoping out the location for some time.
“It’s really exciting to have Mandy at Oliver’s as we now have koalas at all of the stops here at the donut,” she said.
“As I was watching the new shop being built, I had to drop in and see if we could get a koala there. They jumped at the chance.
“The link is lovely, as this koala is all about health and well being, and Oliver’s is exactly the same.”
Yvonne has been approved to create a peace koala that will be released in 2018 somewhere in Port Macquarie.