ARARAT College students have built a giant yellow tail black cockatoo out of scrap metal that will be on display at this year's Lake Bolac Eel Festival.
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The cockatoo was constructed under the guidance of Natimuk-based sculptural artist Dave Jones, and weighs close to 100 kgs, stands at 2.5 metres tall and has a wingspan of three metres.
About 10 students from all grades helped construct it through welding, shaping the metal and other tasks.
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It will be one of several metal sculpture animals at the festival to preside over twilight indigenous dancing.
"The idea was the kids would do the majority of the work and I'm having an artistic eye over the whole thing," Mr Jones said. "I've not done very much myself at all.
"We gathered all the bits on a field trip down to Marx Metal Recycling and found all the elements, and then the kids have bent the bits into shape or found a cog for the eye or other elements."
A bit of imagination was required for certain parts like the beak, which has been constructed out of an old gas cylinder.
"I like looking at it and seeing the tow bar off a car or a part that was an exhaust manifold," Mr Jones said.
Langi means "place of" and Ghiran is the yellow tail black cockatoo in local Djabwurrung language.
"The yellow tail black cockatoo is an important spiritual Dreamtime totem for the Djab wurrung people," fesitval organiser Elyjah Cloud said.
"Its importance is profound but what has been shared in simplicity is Ghiran is a reminder of duties both social and ceremonial, a guiding spirit, a symbol of unity and they warn of danger.
"Therefore it is highly regarded and people refrain from harming them."
The festival takes place once every two years and this year will be on March 21.
For tickets and information about the music line-up, workshops, films and the community dinner and Friday March 20 night art auction visit www.eelfestival.org.au or phone Lake Bolac Business and Information Centre 5350 2204.
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