Mountain to Mouth 2016 artists get ready for the weekend

Our artists have been working very hard preparing for our Extreme Arts walk. We have over 70 artists working on this event, not including our extensive team of performers in ceremonies and countless volunteers from the community engaged in workshops and other aspects of the event. Here is a little look at some of the works in progress.

Here is a preview of Jennifer McElwee's magnificent sculpture, part of her Walking Circle at the sixth Songline Station. See the whole thing at 6am on Saturday 7 May at the Barwon River Rowing Precinct. 

Pop archaeology is taking over at Merinda Kelly's workshop in preparation for her Walking Circle at Moorpanyal Park.

Interactive and bound to be a highlight of the event, come on down to the fourth Songline Station, open from 5:30pm on Friday 6 May.

Jacinta Leitch and Dare Tekin creating kinetic sculptures in the workshop for their Walking Circle at Steampacket Gardens.

This Songline Station is the central point of the journey and is where Mountain to Mouth collides with Geelong After Dark in the city. 

Some kids getting involved in a workshop designing birds and nests made from recycled materials for Mirjana Margetic's Walking Circle at Christies Rd.

Mountain to Mouth artistic director Meme McDonald and Canoe artists Leonard Tebegetu and Mahony Maia Kiely scouting the land in preparation for the event.

That's right! A sneak preview of Canoe itself, which is currently spending the week at the National Wool Museum. See it in action this weekend, starting from the Gathering of the Elders ceremony at You Yangs Big Rock at 12:30pm.

Mountain to Mouth (6-7 May) is Geelong's multi-award winning journey of discovery, an 80km walk over two days and 11 stages. Register Now 

Top 5 reasons to go to Mountain to Mouth 2016 this weekend

1 - Art like you've never seen it before!

From beaches to farmlands to wetlands to ancient mountaintops, prepare to experience extreme arts in extreme and unexpected environments.  The ephemeral art installations at Mountain to Mouth 2016 vary dramatically in style, genre and aesthetic.

They reflect the history of the area as well as addressing issues facing the environment of their setting. Mountain to Mouth 2016 is an unmissable chance to view these unique works which exist so temporarily. 

2 - Help us replant the land!

50% of tickets sold to Mountain to Mouth 2016 go towards funding an indigenous revegetation program across the Geelong and Queenscliff region.

This initiative will help retain the regions natural beauty, its biodiversity and ecological future. By walking this land, you're helping to preserve its future.

3 - Discover the land!

This is an opportunity to experience and discover the Geelong and Queenscliff regions in a very personal yet communal way.

The diversity of this region will startle and move you, with iconic coastal beaches, rural farmlands, industrial ports and more all along the route of the walk. This walk allows you to forge a bond with the land and its various intricacies. 

4 - Get fit!

What better way to motivate you to embark upon a significant physical challenge than to see Extreme Arts, protect the environment and discover the land?

The same question with the different aspects of it rearranged can be posed to just as great of an effect. That is what makes Mountain to Mouth so special and unique. You can choose the distance, and you can choose the challenge. 

5 - Connect with history

Discovery is a large component of this event. By witnessing the different areas of the region, you discover more about the nature of its past, its present and the reality of its future through the narratives told by the artists, local historians and indigenous elders. 

One final reason: Mountain to Mouth only occurs every two years, don't miss out!

 Mountain to Mouth (6-7 May) is Geelong's multi-award winning journey of discovery, an 80km walk over two days and 11 stages. Register Now 

Are you ready for Mountain to Mouth 2016?

Mountain to Mouth 2016 is just under a week away, meaning it's time to make sure you are registered and prepared for the event. This means discussing a few things some of us might forget in the excitement of it all.


          What to Bring

• Ensure you have comfortable clothes for a variety of hot, cold, wet and dry weather, including raincoats, hat/hood, poncho etc. 
   
• Durable, well-fitting footwear suitable for walking distances.
   
• Thick and breathable socks with anti-chafing products for walkers planning on doing long distances.
   
• Sunscreen and refillable water bottle.
   
• Trail mix/snack food and money to purchase food.
   
• A fully charged torch if you are walking at night or early in the morning.
   
• A fully charged mobile phone.
   

  Amenities

• Toilets will be available at each of the 12 Songline Stations during the walk. This includes accessible toilets. 
   
• Drinking water is available at each Songline Station. 
   
• Toilets are also available near Suma Park railway siding, mid point between Drysdale and Swan Bay. The stages from Drysdale to Swan Bay, and from Point Lonsdale to Ocean Grove, are particularly long. Walkers should plan accordingly.

          Transport and Parking
 

• Free shuttle buses are available to registered walkers between Songline Stations along the walk. Use your Mountain to Mouth 2016 passport to gain access. No payment or booking is necessary for these coaches if you are a registered walker.
  
  Note that these buses take walkers back through all the previous Songline Stations before travelling forward along the path of the walk. Shuttle buses will depart from each Songline Station approximately 15 minutes after Canoe has departed. To get an idea of the timing, consult the timetable.
   
• A coach will depart from a signed bus bay at Geelong Railway Station, to Big Rock at the You Yangs at 12pm Friday 6 May, for the Gathering of the Elders ceremony and the start of the walk. 
  
  A coach will depart from a signed bus bay at Barwon Heads Foreshore to Geelong Railway Station at 8pm Saturday 7 May, after the conclusion of the event.
  
  Seats for these trips need to be reserved through the registration portal. Tickets for these trips are $5 return and are payable at the time of registration or in cash on the bus. 
   
• Limited parking will be available within the vicinity of the Songline Stations.
   
• Please note that parking is very limited at You Yangs Big Rock on Friday 6 May and walkers should plan for this in advance.

          Food
 

• Karingal will be providing fruit and other food goods for a gold coin donation.
   
• A number of Songline Stations will feature a variety of food and beverages from local vendors that can be purchased. 
   
• There will be extensive dining options in the Central Geelong area. Check out www.centralgeelong.com.au for more information. 
   
• At the Heads is a beachfront eatery in Barwon Heads, located within the vicinity of the last Songline Station, which they officially sponsor. We highly recommend walkers visit this charming, relaxed, nautical-themed restaurant which uses sustainable produce and methods to deliver delicious meals. 

 

         The Walk

• It is highly recommended that you train in advance and consider your physical fitness level. Contact your GP for advice if you have any considerations. Have a realistic goal for your participation in the walk and be aware of your limitations. Please look at our fitness guide to get an idea of an appropriate amount of training in preparation for the event.
   
• All care has been taken to ensure that the route follows the safest pathways wherever possible, however we cannot guarantee that the condition of the path meets your abilities. Consult the timetable for details of the pathway or the Route Marshals on the walk for advice. 
   
• Make sure you walk at a pace that suits you and rest regularly. There is no need to keep pace with Canoe or other walkers. 
   
• We recommend that walkers planning on completing long distances do so in company and/or arrange support teams that can travel by car and carry belongings, provide nourishment, transport and moral support. 
   
• Persons under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 

          Accessibility

• Many parts of the walk are uneven, and include sealed and unsealed paths, as well as steps, inclines and declines. The stages between Songline Stations 10, 11 and 12, are along the beach, on wet sand, and across informal gravel paths. Walkers may wish to personally assess the stages or only complete the Walking Circles (which are free to everyone). Certain aspects of this walk are not fully accessible.
  
  Please note that the stage from Steampacket Gardens to the Barwon River, which will take place on Saturday 7 May, is via a footpath. The stage involves a moderate gradient up to McKillop Street, a moderate decline to the Barwon River, as well as a short gravel path to the sealed path towards Barwon River rowing sheds. We recommend that you make a self assessment about this journey based on your individual requirements. 
  
  
  Anything else?
   
• Everyone is welcome to experience any of the 12 Walking Circles or 3 ceremonies without registering. It is a great way for friends and family to be involved for free. The registration process constitutes a donation to the Green Corridor strategy, the artists and the future of Mountain to Mouth. 
   
• The Connecting Memories app app gives you access to a rich collection of digital stories about the iconic places and people of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula. The app allows you to hear diverse voices telling fascinating local stories through short films, audio narration, music, images and text.  Find out more information here.
   

Connecting Memories app update

The Connecting Memory app has just been updated to dramatically improve user experience, with easier layouts, smaller download size and seamless integration with online maps.

The app taps into a rich collection of digital stories about the iconic places and fascinating people of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula. Local voices tell local stories through film, spoken word, song, images and text. 

Stories are clustered around the footprint of the Mountain to Mouth Contemporary Songline, a path which extends from the You Yangs Regional Park mountain range to the beautiful Barwon Heads river. The app is a useful and experience enhancing companion for participants of Mountain to Mouth 2016 as it alerts you to nearby stories.

Travellers on the route can unearth content by traversing the land and walking circles based on ancient labyrinth designs to unlock stories as they pass through grasslands, industrial nightscapes, the city centre, rural landscapes and beaches across the diverse municipality. 

Highlights include Serendip wildlife sanctuary, Bob McGovern Path, Hovells Creek, Limeburners Lagoon, North Geelong and North Shore, Corio Bay, Western Bay walk, Geelong Waterfront, Steampacket Gardens, Bellarine Rail Trail, Swan Bay, Point Lonsdale, Ocean Grove Beach and Barwon Heads. 

Mountain to Mouth is Geelong's multi-award winning journey of discovery, an 80km walk over two days and 11 stages. Register now.

Green Corridor Strategy kicks off!

Half of all tickets sold at Mountain to Mouth 2016 go towards funding a planting program of indigenous species along the 80km walk, called the Green Corridor strategy. It is a long term vision focused on connecting local communities and revegetation organisations together, in order to help revegetate local habitats and retain the regions natural beauty. 

Today the Mountain to Mouth team, Karingal Foundation, Parks Victoria and an entourage of over 40 volunteers successfully conducted the first major planting at Big Rock in the You Yangs, an important site for indigenous heritage, ecology and the starting point for the Extreme Arts walk. 

650 indigenous flora were planted over two sessions, helping the ecology of the You Yangs to get back on track. Matt Crawley, one of Mountain to Mouth 2016's district coordinators and part of the Bellarine Landcare Group,  said the area contained a lot of biodiversity but the ground-level plant life has become sparse due to pests like rabbits. 

The planting has seen 150 bidgee widgees, 50 snowy mint-bushes, 250 pots of kangaroos grass and 200 pots of basket grass reintroduced to the area, which will initiate a positive chain reaction for the local environment, including giving natural wildlife such as kangaroos the ideal plant life to graze on. 

Suzette Jackson is the Green Corridor coordinator, responsible for overseeing this very important aspect of the Mountain to Mouth project. She has been instrumental in numerous regional sustainability initiatives in the Geelong region and is a director of Innate Ecology. With a strong focus on sustainable living and healthy regions, she is excited to have initiated the project with such success and enthusiasm from partners and volunteers.

Suzette Jackson addressing the planting team. 

Tamara Karner, a team leader at Parks Victoria who is responsible for the You Yangs regional park, says they are ecstatic to have plant life reintroduced to the area after so many years without it. A rabbit-proof fence is being installed to ensure the new plants are not decimated by the pests. 

Esther Konings-Oakes, the district coordinator for the Songline Station at the You Yangs will coordinate volunteers to maintain the planting in the lead up to event. This team will also clear the ceremonial circle of noxious weeds and debris in time for Mountain to Mouth 2016's indigenous dance and welcoming ceremony, "Gathering of the Elders". She is in the process of organising regular days where volunteers get together to maintain this important and treasured environment. 

The upcoming installation of Mountain to Mouth walking maps and signage at a number of sites will encourage year-round walking of the Contemporary Songline.

 Mountain to Mouth is Geelong's multi-award winning journey of discovery, an 80km walk over two days and 11 stages. Register now.

There's a distance for everyone at Mountain to Mouth 2016

With under 4 weeks to go until Mountain to Mouth 2016 (6-7 May), there is still time to commit to the walking program and train for one or more of the stages of Geelong's 80km Extreme Arts Walk.

Walkers at Mountain to Mouth 2014

Photo by Gerry Van Der Meer

Local Geelong resident Terri Osburn, who completed the whole 80km walk last time - a huge achievement - encourages others to do any part of the walk at any pace. She described one of the most surprising and memorable parts of the event to be the walk from Moorpanyal Park to Steampacket Gardens, 6.7km through the lit-up industrial landscape arriving in the city centre for Geelong After Dark. Terri says the lights coming from the industrial areas around the bay were amazing.

Industrial light show on the path from Moorpanyal Park to Steampacket Gardens

Mountain to Mouth has a distance for everyone with the longest stage being from Drysdale Station to Swan Bay, 13.9km. The shortest leg is the very scenic 2.8km from Swan Bay to Pt Lonsdale village along a flat, sealed path. Both occur on the Saturday afternoon of the second day (7 May). You choose the challenge, you choose the distance.  Download your Mountain to Mouth fitness program here.

Mountain to Mouth is Geelong's multi-award winning journey of discovery, an 80km walk over two days and 11 stages. Register now.

Mountain to Mouth 2016 Announces Recipients of Major International Sculpture Commission

Mountain to Mouth - Geelong's 80km Extreme Arts Walk, has announced the recipients of its major sculpture commission in a special ceremony at Eastern Beach, Geelong.

Papua New Guinean artist, Leonard Tebegetu and Australian artist, Mahony Maia Kiely have been jointly awarded the commission. Together they will create Mountain to Mouth 2016's lead ephemeral artwork, Canoe - a vessel which will carry water from the ancient Rockwell at Big Rock, You Yangs, along the 80km journey to rejoin the ocean at Barwon Heads.

The commission, made possible by the Australia Council for the Arts, represents a significant cultural exchange that will enable a stronger dialogue and deeper understanding of Indigenous cultures in both Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Canoe artists Mahony Maia Kiely and Leonard Tebegetu with Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons and Wadawurrung Elder Uncle Bryon Powell at the Eastern Beach ceremony.

Leonard Tebegetu is a sculptor and bamboo artist, who brings his culture and upbringing in Papua New Guinea, his experience of life on a small island, and his work as a globally operating contemporary artist to the role of Canoe Maker for Mountain to Mouth 2016. He lives in a land where the lines are blurred between traditional and contemporary culture, and the former can maintain its accessibility and resist being eroded by colonial forces over the past century through cultural and creative exchange. In 2015, he was head designer for the 35-person workshop that constructed props for the Pacific Games opening ceremony.

Wadawurrung Elder Uncle Bryon Powell smoking 2014 Canoe artist Benjamin Gilbert, Mountain to Mouth Artistic Director Meme McDonald, Mahony Maia Kiely, Leonard Tebegetu, Mayor Darryn Lyons and Manager of Arts and Culture Kaz Paton at the Eastern Beach ceremony.

Mahony Maia Kiely is a community artist and sculptor who was previously involved in Mountain to Mouth in 2009 and 2014. She has worked in Australia and around the world over the past 25 years as an artistic director, choreographer, creative producer and performer. Mahony also worked on the 2015 Pacific Games Opening Ceremony, where she made a sea of lanterns with 1000 school children and teamed up with Leonard to create a giant Conch structure. It was here the collaborative relationship begun, which will continue in Mountain to Mouth 2016.

The burnt shell of Canoe from Mountain to Mouth 2014 by Benjamin Gilbert.

Leonard Tebegetu and Mahony Maia Kiely will work together over the next month to create Canoe - as well as undertake a series of workshops together for professional artists across the region. Both artists bring different skills to the process of building the bamboo and cane structure, and are looking forward to engaging in cultural and creative exchanges with local artists and Indigenous Elders.

Mountain to Mouth is Geelong's multi-award winning journey of discovery, an 80km walk over two days and 11 stages. Register now.

Mountain to Mouth 2016 unveils plans for three major walk ceremonies

Mountain to Mouth 2016 has unveiled plans for three major walk ceremonies which take place across the 80km journey of discovery on 6-7 May 2016. The three ceremonies celebrate the land, the heritage and the people of the Geelong region. 

GATHERING OF THE ELDERS

The first ceremony occurs at the beginning of the journey at You Yangs Big Rock. Co-directed by Wadawurrung Elder, Uncle Bryon Powell and Mountain to Mouth 2016 Artistic Director Meme McDonald, the silent ceremony focuses on acknowledging the land and its ancestors that walked on it. It gives participants of Mountain to Mouth 2016 the opportunity to contemplate the heritage of the land as well as the journey that lies ahead.

Central to the ceremony is the unveiling of “Canoe” - the ephemeral lead artwork designed by a yet to be announced major artist, that will be carried along the 80 kilometre journey. The sculpture will carry water from the ancient rockwell at Big Rock to rejoin the ocean at Barwon Heads at the conclusion of the journey.

Gathering of the Elders ceremony at Mountain to Mouth 2014

Photo by Gerry Van Der Meer

GATHERING OF THE CITY: GEELONG CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

The second ceremony occurs at 8:10pm in Steampacket Gardens, when the journey of Mountain to Mouth 2016 collides with Geelong After Dark 2016, welcoming walkers to the city centre for a celebration of dance and bringing people together. Dancers from all parts of the city will gather people together to celebrate Mountain to Mouth 2016's theme of “Air”. Everyone is welcome to join in and be a part of the celebrations.

Those who would like to get involved as a dancer can express their interest at mtom@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Gathering of the City at Mountain to Mouth 2014

Photo by Brien Cohn

GATHERING OF THE ELEMENTS

The final ceremony will be held at the mouth of the Barwon River from 6pm on Saturday 7 May at Barwon Heads Jetty, marking the conclusion of the 80km journey. It is a ceremony of completion, acknowledging those elements that came together to support our journey both as individuals and as a community on Mountain to Mouth 2016.

In an expression of gratitude, this ceremony returns the precious water carried from You Yangs Big Rock, across 80 kilometres, to where river meets sea, where freshwater and salt become one, at the point of change and exchange, marking endings and beginnings, acknowledging rhythm and flow, standing in past, present and future, for this one moment together.

The closing ceremony also marks the end of the journey for the ephemeral artwork “Canoe”, an end point to consider the ephemeral nature of many aspects of life, the brief yet treasured moments that occur throughout it.

Gathering of the Elements ceremony 2014

Photo by Gloria Van Der Meer

Mountain to Mouth is Geelong's multi-award winning journey of discovery, an 80km walk over two days and 11 stages. Register now.

Mountain to Mouth unveils 8 Week Walking Program to prepare for 2016 event

Mountain to Mouth 2016, Geelong's multi-award winning 80km extreme arts walk is set to kick off in just 8 weeks. In order to help participants prepare, we have put together an 8 week walking program, in conjunction with the City of Greater Geelong’s Swim Sport and Leisure network. 

View fullsize

Image: G. Van Der Meer

Designed in a flexible manner, the easy-to-follow program works as a guide that can be used by anyone regardless of age and fitness level. The program is designed to cater for a range of different goals, with a guide on how to walk a 5km distance, a 10km distance and more. 

This reflects the very nature of the Mountain to Mouth walk, in that participants can choose the distance and the challenge that suits them. Walk stages vary in distance from 3-14 kilometres each and participants can choose to walk any one or more of these stages, or the whole distance whilst experiencing edgy artworks that celebrate the land.  

The 8 week walking program is ideal for organisations or teams that are considering registering for Mountain to Mouth 2016 as a group. The program gives groups an opportunity to be involved in an enjoyable team-building exercise, improving the health of participants as well as strengthening their relationships. Organisations could schedule “walking meetings” as a way of participating in program in preparation for the event.

Special group (team) prices are available. 2 day “Pilgrim” passes are $450 for a group of 10, whilst 1 day “Standard” passes are $250 for a group of 10. Tickets can be purchased here. 

You choo-choose the distance, you choose the challenge.

View fullsize

Geelong’s multi-award winning extreme arts walk – Mountain to Mouth (M~M2016) and the iconic Bellarine Railway are teaming up to give M~M2016 participants a choice of walking or riding a train (in one section) hauled by a historic locomotive during M~M2016.

M~M2016 is an 80km extreme arts journey of discovery over two days (6 - 7 May 2016) and 11 stages, with participants walking from the You Yangs mountain range through Central Geelong, along the Barwon River, via the Bellarine Peninsula and out to the mouth of the Barwon River at Barwon Heads.  The route is punctuated with edgy artworks commissioned especially for M~M, bringing people together through shared experiences of extreme arts that celebrate the region.

The walk gives a rare opportunity for Geelong residents and visitors to walk across the land, with the 11 stages of the walk offering varying distances.

Now, M~M participants on day two of the event will have the opportunity to be on the historic train between Drysdale and Queenscliffe - participating in activities at the Drysdale Station and the Swan Bay Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre.

City of Greater Geelong Bellarine Councillors John Irvine and Lindsay Ellis are encouraging people to either walk or ride the train during the extreme arts walk, which will take in stunning sights across the Bellarine Peninsula.

“During the journey you will pass through remnant bush land of the Bellarine Peninsula, before skirting the picturesque Swan Bay to arrive at Swan Bay Railway Station. The railway corridor features a variety of vistas to enjoy from the train, including an olive grove, vineyard and views of Queenscliff and Swan Bay,” said Cr Irvine.

“Upon arrival into Swan Bay, passengers are encouraged to include a visit to the Discovery Centre to gain an understanding of the marine and birdlife Swan Bay supports.  The Centre has aquariums with local marine and freshwater life and a touch tank where visitors can get closer to animals like seastars and crabs,” said Cr Ellis.

Mayor of the Borough of Queenscliffe Hélène Cameron is encouraging people of all ages and abilities to hop onboard the M~M Railway and enjoy the experience from a unique perspective.

“The railway is an integral part of Queenscliff’s local history and the combination of arts, culture and community provides for a wonderful day trip for both walkers and passengers alike.”

Tickets for the M~M walk train special are $20 (adults), $15 (child, senior) and $40 (family ticket, 2 adults , up to 3 children) and can be purchased directly from the Bellarine Railway: http://bellarinerailway.com.au/mountain-to-mouth.  Tickets for the walk can be purchased by visiting the M~M2016 website: www.mountaintomouth.com.au.

M~M Extreme Arts Walk calling for Flag Ambassador Nominations

View fullsize

Photo: Anne Buckley

M~M2016 (Mountain to Mouth) is now calling for nominations for community ambassadors to carry a municipal ward flag, during Geelong’s Extreme Arts Walk on 6 – 7 May 2016.

Flag Ambassadors will be part of an 80km extreme arts journey of discovery.

Arts & Culture Portfolio holder Councillor Andy Richards said M~M2016 Flag Ambassadors would be part of the award-winning event, that showcases our region like no other.

“Walking 80km through Greater Geelong is unlike anywhere else – its diversity is spectacular - taking in rural and mountainous regions, industrial and commercial precincts, urban and residential areas and inland and coastal waters,” said Cr Richards.

Over 2 days and 11 stages, M~M2016 Flag Ambassadors will lead the walk from the You Yangs mountain range – crossing Geelong’s industrial heartland at nightfall and arriving in the city centre to collide with Geelong After Dark, a night of extreme and unexpected arts. At dawn the next day, walkers will follow the Barwon River through rolling Bellarine farmland, along ocean beach to reach river mouth at Barwon Heads by sunset.

Flag Ambassadors will carry the 12 emblematic flags of the 12 Municipal Wards of the Geelong and Queenscliff region. Route stages vary in distance (from 3-14kms), and Flag Ambassadors walk one stage only. In longer stages, the flag-bearing role may be shared among several Ambassadors.

Corio Ward Councillor Kylie Fisher shared her thoughts on the walk, which takes in Geelong’s northern suburbs and shows off parts of Geelong rarely explored by residents.

“Coming from the north into the city there is so much rich history and contrast.  Residential and industrial areas meet tucked-away sandy bay beaches with spectacular views right across Corio Bay,” said Cr Fisher.

“The M~M2016 walk will enable Geelong residents and visitors an opportunity to discover hidden aspects of the region.”

Cr Richards encouraged the community to get involved by nominating someone who has made a special contribution to their local community. 

Community Flag Ambassadors are to be nominated for their significant contribution to their municipality or neighbourhood. Community Ambassadors can be nominated from all wards of the Geelong region, and from all walks of life.

Do you know of someone who has made a special community contribution to your ward who you would like to nominate? Nominate them to become an official M~M Flag Ambassador today!