Jayco’s Gerry Ryan dealt $1.5m blow as First Nations artwork destroyed in Victorian floods
Jayco Caravans boss Gerry Ryan has revealed just how much damage his Mitchelton art gallery sustained in last month’s flood emergency.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An estimated $1.5 million in First Nations artwork displayed at Jayco billionaire Gerry Ryan’s Mitchelton gallery was destroyed in last month’s flood emergency.
Mr Ryan, instrumental in helping Echuca’s flood victims by donating caravans for temporary housing, purchased Mitchelton Winery in the Goulburn Valley in 2011.
Its offshoot Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art first opened its doors in 2018, located in an underground cellar on the grounds of the winery.
The billionaire moved to Nagambie about 20 years ago with plans for a quieter life but in the years since has added tourism, sport and hospitality ventures to his name.
The gallery, which briefly hosted tennis superstar Nick Kyrgios in January this year, is considered Australia’s largest commercial First Nations art gallery.
“We’re still recovering some artwork,” Mr Ryan told the Herald Sun.
“The gallery is still about four weeks away from opening but the hotel and winery are up and running again.
“There’s about 120 pieces that were lost, but some paintings weren’t affected at all.”
Some pieces lost to floodwater were the works of late First Nations artists, sadly rendering the stunning artwork irreplaceable.
According to the gallery’s website, large-scale paintings by the late Yannima Tommy Watson, Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi and George Hairbrush Tjungurrayi were on display.
Rising artists Anna Price Pitjara and Clarise Tunkin also showcased their work at the site. The fate of their pieces is unclear.
A permanent feature on show is an old Vietnam War ambulance painted by over 200 First Nations artists that was endorsed by Nelson Mandela and Gough Whitlam.
Mr Ryan confirmed the piece, titled ‘Message Stick Vehicle’, had been impacted by flood waters but could be repaired.
Mr Ryan said artists whose work was lost were devastated when informed of the news.
Some are working to supply fresh pieces to the gallery in the lead up to its reopening, expected to take place in about a month’s time.
A total 15 wine barrels also located in the underground cellar were destroyed in the disaster.
“The most important thing is that more people didn’t get seriously hurt, it’s really a miracle,” Mr Ryan reasoned.
“We’re fortunate more so than people in other areas that were hit much worse.”
The winery’s hotel reopened last month and is back operating at about 85 per cent capacity.
“Our staff are experiencing long hours. But the local community support has been phenomenal,” Mr Ryan said.
“It’s these times that make you realise the local community is very supportive of those in need.”
Rain front set to soak Victoria this weekend
Flood-weary Victorians are gearing up for even more rain and extreme weather as the state braces for another wet weekend.
After a small glimpse of recovery from the flooding of past weeks, further warnings have been issued extensively across Victoria – particularly for the northeast.
Towns along the Murray River, including embattled communities in Kerang and Echuca, have been issued moderate to major flood warnings.
The risk of flash flooding is also heightening across Victoria on Sunday, with metropolitan, as well as rural, areas warned to prepare for rising water.
Flooding in metropolitan areas, including Maribyrnong and Lilydale, is expected to be significantly less than the devastating floods of mid October.
SES chief operations officer Tim Wiebusch said residents could prepare for the rain in three primary ways.
“First of all, download your local flood guide to really understand what the flood risk is in your area — it provides information at various heights as to where roads will be cut, and where impacts may occur in and around the community,” Mr Wiebusch said.
“Secondly, you can access sandbag collection points at the high-risk areas, and that information is on the SES website.
“Thirdly for the flash flood risk: check your storm drains and gutters now while we’ve still got conditions that are conducive to being able to undertake that work, well ahead of the rain that’s coming across the weekend and early next week.”
Michael Logan of the BOM said with rivers and dams already at capacity, there was potential for water to spill over “quite rapidly”.
Preempting the wild conditions, the SES will deploy extra volunteers from all over the state to help, from Mallacoota through to Portland.
Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said flood-affected regions were dealing with extreme fatigue and stress.
“We’ve got a high risk weekend for the state as a whole, and there is fatigue – there’s no denying that, across our communities and particularly those communities have been impacted by this flood event,” Mr Crisp said.
“But I urge you, please, you’ve got to be able to stay across that information.
“Download Vic Emergency, you need that so you can make those good decisions to actually keep you safe to keep your family safe.”
First man jailed over Nazi salute under new Victorian laws
A neo-Nazi will be jailed in the first successful prosecution for performing a banned gesture, a court has been told.
Landlord exodus hits as property listings skyrocket
Victorian landlords are exiting the market in droves with September property listings at their highest in almost a decade. See the areas they’re leaving.