A $100,000 DONATION has helped the McClelland Gallery in Langwarrin develop a new walk.
The donation was made by the Belcher family. The walk will be named the “Belcher Family Lake Walk”, commemorating the lives of frequent park visitors Tamie Belcher and Eric Belcher.
The Belcher’s daughter Jenni Alexander said her parents first visited McClelland in the 1980s and loved walking the grounds. “The combination of art and nature at McClelland were an inspiration to my parents. It really became a favourite place – along with my family, my daughters first came to McClelland as toddlers and we still celebrate many family events here at McClelland with our extended family,” she said. “It gives me great pleasure to see this beautiful new walk created and named in their honour.”
McClelland director Lisa Byrne thanked the family for the donation. “We are deeply indebted to Jenni Alexander, Leon, Bronya, Brylee and the Belcher family for their generosity in making the Belcher Family Lake Walk a reality,” she said.
“During the first lockdown I received a phone call from Jenni asking to meet. We did so with a morning walk in the park and a coffee in hand. From this small conversation two truly amazing projects will be realised for the benefit of many generations to come. Belcher Family Lake Walk will provide easy, fully accessible access for visitors of all ages to enjoy the unique sculptures and vistas which surround the lake.”
Part of the donation will be used to conserve and restore one of Eric Belcher’s favourite sculptures, Phil Price’s Tree of Life.