Call for Dame Edna Everage statue to be displayed prominently in Moonee Ponds
There is a push to get a bronze statue of Barry Humphries’ alter-ego Dame Edna Everage in the suburb the comedy genius helped put on the map.
Entertainment
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A statue of Barry Humphries as his alter-ego Dame Edna Everage has been proposed for the Melbourne suburb the comedy genius helped put on the map.
Federal Minister Bill Shorten has called for a bronze statue to be struck and displayed prominently in Moonee Ponds to honour the late, great comedian and the popular character he took to the world.
“Dame Edna may have been raised in Camberwell and studied at Melbourne University but it was the famous housewife from Moonee Ponds who went global,’’ he said.
Mr Shorten, whose electorate office for the seat of Maribyrnong is in Moonee Ponds, vowed to speak to local, state and federal governments in a bid to build the statue.
“You could ask the locals where but there is an Everage St in Moonee Ponds,’’ he said.
“I mean, when you visit England, you can go to different suburbs in London and they have a statue commemorating someone who came from or who is connected to that suburb.’’
The push for a statue comes after former TV and sketch comedy star Steve Vizard told the Herald Sun: “There should be a theatre named in honour of Barry Humphries, but none would be big enough, grand enough, and comprehensive enough.’’
Actor and comedian Shane Jacobson said there should be a theatre as well as a comedy award named after Humphries, to replace The Barry Award The Melbourne Comedy Festival stripped from him in 2019.
Mr Humphries, who died aged 89 from complications from hip surgery on Saturday, was born in Kew and raised in Camberwell.
But Mr Shorten said it would be fitting to strike a permanent tribute to Mr Humphries in the suburb his Dame Edna declared home as early as 1955.
Funding could be split between governments.
“I’d certainly be an advocate for it,’’ Mr Shorten said.
“Maybe Camberwell could have the Barry Humphries statue and we can have Dame Edna.’’
Moonee Valley mayor Pierce Tyson said the idea had merit and he was happy to take Mr Shorten’s concept to his council and community.
“I’m certainly not opposed to the idea,’’ he said.
“Obviously we renamed a street Everage St a few years ago in Moonee Ponds and at the very least, that should have an explainer underneath it and an acknowledgment of the namesake.
“In terms of a statue, I’m open to it, if the community wants to give their views I’m more than happy to have a conversation.’’
Mr Shorten said he said he would speak to all levels of government as well as developers now transforming the suburb about funding.
“Maybe some of the developers could chip in too because they are making enough out of the community,’’ he said.
He believed a Moonee Ponds statue would become a tourist destination that drew visitors to the area.
“It would be great for local businesses, attracting people to the area,’’ he said.
“Moonee Ponds has great coffee and shopping so they could have a cuppa, visit the statue and then find a bargain.”
‘There should be something to honour him’
Powerful showbiz figures say Barry Humphries should have a theatre, arts centre or performance excellence award named in his honour.
Former television presenter and sketch comedy star Steve Vizard told the Herald Sun: “There should be a theatre named in honour of Barry Humphries, but none would be big enough, grand enough, and comprehensive enough to do the trick.
“The reality is, he performed in all of the best (places), all over the world, and absolutely there should be something to honour him, but we shouldn’t rush into it. You need to get it right,” he said. “But it would have to be something big and creatively inspiring, because anything less would not do justice to him.”
Humphries, the comic genius whose alter-egos included Moonee Ponds housewife superstar Dame Edna Everage, died at the weekend from complications from a broken hip. The Melbourne-born legend was 89.
On Monday it was confirmed the star’s family had been offered a state memorial service by the Victorian government, but were yet to accept.
“He had such an impact on so many people during the course of his life,” Senior government Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said.
“There’s no doubt that Barry Humphries had a significant impact on our nation and on our nation’s culture.
“I think it’s too early to have those conversations. We need to continue to work with the family and offer the support that they need at this time.
“Our focus right now is having reached out to the Humphries family and awaiting their advice.”
But as tributes poured in from around, Vizard, a businessman and adjunct professor, and Shane Jacobson, a popular actor, TV presenter and producer, said Humphries should be officially honoured.
“It would be wonderful to see a theatre named after him,” Jacobson told the Herald Sun. “He did so much for comedy, the arts, the Australian vernacular, and our sense of humour. He took that to the world, and let that be his canvas. We should name a theatre or performance venue after him.”
Jacobson said there should also be a performance excellence award name after him.
“Imagine in the future, if you’re an actor, comedian or artist receiving a Barry Humphries Award. If we bestowed his name on an award, it should be the highest honour, and mean the absolute world.”
Vizard said: “There are the things that should be named after (Humphries), but there would also be things Dame Edna would suggest.”
He said these would include a Dame Edna food court in Chadstone, an “almost out of action RSL” named after another Humphries character, Sandy Stone, and an international peace and diplomacy centre, honouring another alias, Sir Les Patterson.
Meanwhile, in Dame Edna’s spiritual home, Moonee Ponds mayor Pierce Tyson, paid tribute to the rogue royal who promoted the Melbourne on a global scale.
“Dame Edna was part of the cultural tapestry of Moonee Ponds and we are proud to have been chosen as the home of the legend of the stage and screen,” Mr Tyson told the Herald Sun. “Dame Edna’s portrayal of Moonee Ponds, like the character of Dame Edna herself, demonstrated to the world that what seems ordinary can in fact be fabulous.”
On Everage St, Moonee Ponds, which was named after Dame Edna, residents laid out flowers and cards.
Local resident and long time Dame Edna fan, George Gray, said: “She’s got her own street, so that pretty much says it all.”
Another local said it was a “wonderful feeling” to have Everage St remain in her suburb, adding: “I loved him, I loved her … they were both a wonderful treasure.”
Mr Tyson said: “I know our community will join me in putting out the gladioli and remember her wishing us goodnight, possums.”
Mary Holmes, who has lived near Everage St for decades, said she was “very sad” to hear of the 89-year-old’s passing on Saturday night in a Sydney Hospital.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” she said.
“I was very sad, I thought we’ve lost another great satirist in a time when we need satirists.
“I loved Dame Edna the most of all of his characters.
“I think he really managed to encapsulate middle class Melbourne.
“He’s amazing.”
She said Everage St in Moonee Ponds was a brilliant way to keep his legacy going.
“It’s great that there’s a street named after her and I think it’s a great tribute,” she added.
“He really put Moonee Ponds on the map, and because of the silly name it caught the attention of those abroad.
“It was a very clever thing to do.”
Fan George Gray also reflected on Mr Humphries’ life.
“He was such a funny man,” he said.
“If he saw something, he could find the funny part and bring it to life and he made everyone happy by doing so.
“If you were depressed and he started talking, your spirits would lift and he made the rest of the day great.”
Mr Gray said Mr Humphries and the Dame Edna character were iconic.
“She’s got her own street, so that pretty much says it all,” he added.
“It’s just his wit, he was very, very quick off the mark.
“She could talk to everyone, she’d walk up to the common person and say ‘hello, how are you?’, she was very accommodating.”
Another local woman, who lives on Everage St, said she was “proud” to live in the street named after Dame Edna.
“She was a larrikin and everything she said was funny,” the woman said.
“She made fun of every thing and everybody.
“It makes me proud.”
Another Moonee Ponds local said it was a “wonderful feeling” to have Everage St remain in her suburb.
“I loved him, for so many years I’ve enjoyed all of his comedy,” she said.
“I loved her, it’s just a wonderful feeling, they were both absolutely a wonderful treasure.”
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