BRONZE VON CRUMM: The beloved storybook character with the very low tum has been immortalised in bronze. Schnitzel von Krumm is pictured with Creative Tauranga CEO Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell and chairman Grant Sowter.
BRONZE VON CRUMM: The beloved storybook character with the very low tum has been immortalised in bronze. Schnitzel von Krumm is pictured with Creative Tauranga CEO Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell and chairman Grant Sowter.
A $10,000 donation by a Sydney couple to the Hairy Maclary sculpture project has been joyously received by Creative Tauranga CEO Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell.
"I'm thrilled to bits," she told the Bay of Plenty Times.
The gap is slowly narrowing to the day, hopefully early next year, when Hairy Maclary andhis eight sculpture pals are installed at the children's playground on the CBD waterfront.
The second largest individual donation arrived out of the blue after the couple popped in to Creative Tauranga to see three of the bronze sculptures during a recent holiday.
"Afterwards they contacted me to ask how much was left to raise. When they said, 'would $10,000 help', I said 'hell yes.'"
Ms Rudduck-Gudsell said the couple's interest was spurred by the video featuring entertainer Jackie Clarke, a real-life Hercules Morse and Hairy Maclary, and Dame Lynley Dodd fan 4-year-old Kayla Harborne.
Their visit to the gallery coincided with the arrival of a group of children. "They were so impressed with the quality and likenesses of the sculptures and were delighted with how the children responded."
The couple were very familiar with the Hairy Maclary stories.
Ms Rudduck-Gudsell has received quite a few donations from Australians holidaying in Tauranga. "They get it. Hairy Maclary is very big in Australia."
With Schnitzel von Krumm, Bottomley Potts and Slinky Malinky on public view and the rest still sitting in their crates, she said it was time that all the gang came out to play.
Everything depended on finding the last $65,000. "I'm doing what I can to get it to the finishing line. It's been a labour of love."
Hairy Maclary Sculpture Project - Total costs including installation: $656,000 - Donations: www.givealittle.co.nz or go to link on Creative Tauranga's website.
