CHILDREN were yelling “it’s so yellow” as they ran towards Holbrook’s yarn-bombed submarine yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A crane worked on last-minute finishing touches as people gathered for the official unveiling of the Murray Arts project.
Both sides of the HMAS Otway’s 90-metre body were covered in every shade of yellow.
Holbrook and Mullengandra primary school students singing We All Live in a Yellow Submarine set the tone for the celebration.
“It looks stunning from afar and when you have a close-up look you see all the work and detail that's gone into it,” Walla community artist Libby Alexander said.
“There’s also little surprises like little submarines and animals that people have incorporated.
“At night time, under all the lights, it actually glows.”
Baling twine, bedding sheets and plastic, along with a more traditional materials in wool, were all used to turn the submarine yellow.
The tourism initiative to put Holbrook back on the map after the bypass became a community engagement project across the region and around the world.
Click play to watch as volunteers wrap the submarine in yellow yarn.
Schools, community groups, aged care facilities, community members and businesses helped knit items to cover the sub, including people from the other side of the world.
Greater Hume mayor Heather Wilton described the yarn-bombing as an exhibition on the side of a submarine.
“It’s proven to be a really interesting project for so many people and everybody feels a sense of ownership — that’s the really great part,” she said.
“It’s been a fantastic opportunity for people to work together to produce something so unique.
“I don’t use that word very lightly because it’s a special word, but I think this is truly unique.”
The unveiling coincided with other important dates — the centenary of Australian submarines, the Holbrook Sheep and Wool Fair and world yarn bombing day.
It also coincides with the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ tour of Australia.
Dressed head-to-toe in yellow was Daysdale’s Kylie Simone.
“I am a huge Beatles fan, so I wanted to come and see it in person,” she said.
Holbrook Submarine Museum curator Roger Cooper admitted he was sceptical of the idea.
“I thought ‘how would we get enough wool knitted to complete the daunting task?’,” he said.
He said workers at Murray Arts came up with a plan to put it on Facebook.
“It worked a treat,” he said.
“We had knitted pieces flooding in from not only the Murray Riverina area but all over Australia and, in fact, around the world.
“I believe this community effort will be talked about for many years to come.”
The submarine’s winter coat will remain for the next month, weather pending.