Moon shine for trauma toll

REFLECTION: Don Walters with his model of Solace. 199185

Ocean Grove sculptor Don Walters has won the chance to design and create a road-trauma memorial for Geelong’s waterfront.

Mr Walters said his concept, Solace, depicted Moon phases to reflect the changing emotions of people dealing with the trauma of road accidents.

He hoped the memorial would be on its Hearne Pde site by Easter.

“I went to the site one evening and there was a full Moon shining over Corio Bay, and that’s when the idea came – sometimes the site can almost tell you what to do.

“I think the idea of the phases of the Moon has a universal quality and it’s not about people. It’s not trying to make it a figurative object, it’s about something grander.

“There are a lot of analogies you can draw, but the Moon is a constant companion, and it’s like when people have passed – it’s still there.”

The public reaction to the memorial, a joint project of City Hall and the Traffic Accident Commission, had been “very positive”, Mr Walters said.