Oddie | Meeting of the magpie minds

By Oddie

Nov 16, 2023

Natural home: Strathbogie Shire Mayor Laura Binks holds the AFL Premiership Cup, won by the Collingwood Magpies, in front of Euroa’s giant magpie sculpture, Swoop the Big Barrwarrang.

The AFL Premiership Cup — with Goulburn Valley exports Jamie Elliott and Steele Sidebottom among those in tow — has been doing the rounds of regional Victoria in the weeks since Collingwood’s grand final triumph.

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One stop on the tour was, of course, Euroa’s latest public sculpture: Swoop the Big Barrwarrang.

Strathbogie Shire Mayor Laura Binks — pictured here in front of the 3.5m magpie — was more than happy to welcome the cup to town.

“The project was a huge culmination of a successful bid for council’s Pitch My Project funding by the Euroa Chamber of Business and Commerce and Euroa Community Action Group,” she said.

“Council then called for expressions of interest from artists, and the community selected its favourite piece from the five shortlisted sculptures.

“The winning name — Swoop the Big Barrwarrang — was selected by the Chamber and ECAG and recently announced at the Euroa Agricultural Show.

“We were so excited to host the 2023 Premiership Cup at the site, which has proven to be a popular drawcard for tourists — some of whom we can only assume are Collingwood fans!”

Ready, set, slither?

On to guests firmly in the unwelcome camp — rather than the invited — at the Shepparton BMX track.

During the recent AusCycling BMX Racing National Championships, an inquisitive brown snake made its way on to the starting hill — clearly trying to see what all the fuss was about.

Greater Shepparton City Council member Anthony Brophy posted a video to social media of the pesky visitor being removed so that finals action could continue.

Oddie is tipping the split times out of the starting gate would have been lightning fast from competitors after the reptile-imposed delay.