Sculptures at Greensborough War Memorial Park will be set on fire at special ceremony

POPULAR wooden sculptures inspired by wartime characters will be set on fire and farewelled in a special ceremony.

Sculptor Leigh Conkie pictured with one of the sculptures that will be farewelled in a ceremonial fire.

POPULAR wooden sculptures inspired by wartime characters will be set on fire and farewelled in a special ceremony this weekend.

The sculptures, created by Eltham chainsaw sculptor Leigh Conkie, have been on display at Greensborough War Memorial Park for more than a decade.

But according to Banyule Council, the sculptures, crafted from cypress tree stumps, have eroded over time and will be replaced as part of a new art project.

Banyule Council mayor Tom Melican said the sculptures had been exposed to the elements and had come to the end of their life.

“To respectfully honour their passing we are holding a ceremonial sculptural fire being created by Eltham artist Macgregor Knox,” Cr Melican said.

“The fire will return the wood to the ground from which a new sculpture project — Homefront — will arise to acknowledge and celebrate the resilience of service men and women, and their families and communities, as they rebuild their lives and relationships when they return home.”

The Homefront project aims to replace the existing wooden sculptures, commissioned by Banyule Council in 2003.

Conkie, along with a team of blacksmiths led by Amanda Gibson, will develop and create new sculptures.

The ceremonial fire will be held on Saturday, September 9, from 6pm and 10pm at the park in Henry St, Greensborough.