Tara Murray
A statue at the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens highlighting one of the key moments in Sunshine’s history is a step closer.
Brimbank council recommended that the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens Public Art Scoping Project be considered as part of the development of the new public art policy and plan 2024-2029.
The idea of the statue was first raised in 2020, by the Friends of the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens, with a focus on Justice Henry Bournes Higgins, Mr McKay and the history of the Sunshine/living wage case.
The case, which is known as the Harvester case, is a landmark Australian labour law decision handed down by the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration.
Justice Higgins declared that “fair and reasonable“ wages for an unskilled male worker required a living wage that was sufficient for “a human being in a civilised community“ to support a wife and three children in “frugal comfort“, while a skilled worker should receive an additional margin for their skills, regardless of the employer’s capacity to pay.
Brimbank council last year allocated $10,000 for the scoping of the sculpture.
But as a commission at this site was not part of the current public art policy and plan 2018- 2023, the council was limited to approving the sculpture, but it was an important first stage in considering a future public art commission for the site.
Community feedback on the project was supportive.
No budget has been decided for the project, but director Lynley Dumble said the project could cost anywhere between $20,000 and $100,000.
Councillor Sam David said a statue was welcome for not just the garden, but the city as whole.
“This city was put together by Hugh Victor McKay, with his Sunshine Harvester workers.
“A statue at the Mckay Gardens is welcome. This is something people have been looking forward to for a long time.”
Councillor Bruce Lancashire said he would like to see more art work in Brimbank parks.
