Hay, check out this bale trail

By Daneka Hill

Dec 2, 2021

Aussie Christmas: One of the art installations on the hay bale trail. All paintings are done by locals — mostly kids and mums. Photos: Amber Townsend Photo by Amber Townsend

Hay fever has taken over Tongala again.

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Last Christmas the small country town followed social distancing restrictions to a T and created a trail of festive art people could view from their cars.

Now the hay bale trail is back by popular demand, with hay donated by an anonymous farmer, paint by Bunnings Echuca and GTS Farm Supplies, and art by local kids.

Getting arty: Christmas tree or very funny cherry tree? Photo by Amber Townsend

Tongala Development Group vice-president Amber Townsend said the trail launched on December 1.

“We’ll also be putting the map online once all the installations are complete,” Ms Townsend said.

“Our theme this year is ‘Christmas in the Country’. There are 21 installations with a Christmas tree, elf, Santa at a sausage sizzle, a Friesian cow, Garfield and Odie and more.”

Last year the artists didn’t realise how badly hay interacted with paint and had to redo their bales repeatedly to keep the colours ‘fresh’.

This year the team put a heavy layer of undercoating onto the bales to solve the problem. Fingers crossed.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear: Tongala has its very own elf. Photo by Amber Townsend

Every installation has its own local business sponsor and the overall event is supported by CopRice and Community Bank Tongala.

“The businesses definitely noticed an increase in traffic last year,” Ms Townsend said.

“The two primary schools (Tongala Primary and St Patrick’s) were also heavily involved.

“One of the school groups set a hay bale up at the aged care residence. Last year the residents couldn’t come out to see the bales so we’ve taken the bales to them this year.”