A central Victorian woman's hay bale art is capturing hearts and minds as communities reflect on what it means to be Australian.
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Inspired by Australia Day, farmer Denise Leed decided to have a crack at making popular children's cartoon characters Bluey and Bingo from bales of hay.
The finished product can be seen on the side of Bendigo - Pyramid Road, about eight kilometres south of Pyramid Hill.
An Australian flag, also made from hay bales, sits between the two characters.
Denise and three neighbours toiled for about six or seven hours to complete the artwork.
Dorothy and Ted Kaye and Dirk Gunther helped bring Denise's vision to fruition.
People were already asking Denise what she was going to be making next.
"I've created a monster," she said.
Her disappointment at the cancellation of Pyramid Hill's Australia Day ceremony was part of what prompted her to make an Australia Day Artwork.
"I thought I'd better do something to mark the day," Denise said.
She said Bluey and Bingo had been well received, with one of her young grandchildren among the hay bale art's biggest fans.
Denise's previous hay bale creations have marked occasions like Christmas, Anzac Day and the Queen's Birthday.
Allan Leed, Denise's late husband, used to be her "chief partner in crime" in hay bale art.
They made their first piece together, about two years ago, to mark Australia Day.
Friends have helped her continue making art since Allan died.
"The community has been amazing," Denise said.
She knew she would have got more help with the Bluey and Bingo piece if she had asked for it.
One of the first artworks Denise made without Allan was a commemoration to 10 fallen soldiers, ahead of Anzac Day.
She said Allan had mentioned the idea to her before he died.
Despite his initial hesitancy about her desire to make art from hay bales, Denise said Allan became a strong supporter of the activity.
People's joy at the hay bale art was among the reasons Denise and Allan became so passionate about it.
"It's amazing how something so simple can give so much pleasure, just a little thought like that," Denise said.
She had been thinking about doing a Bluey and Bingo piece for a few weeks.
"It's a really good theme to use for Australia Day," Denise said.
She usually liked to have sketched out her designs before putting them into action.
But, this time, the artwork came together "on the run in the paddock."
"I think it's my worst job yet, but everyone says it's the best I've done," Dense said.
She believed her latest hay bale art was "a 100km/h job" - best seen from a distance, and without looking at it too closely.
But Denise said her neighbours had seen people stopping on the side of the road to appreciate the creativity.
The pieces would likely remain in the paddock until the elements got to them and they came undone.
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Emma D'Agostino
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
