The Kaniva and District Progress Association has been awarded a small grant through the Local History Grants Program and Public Record Office Victoria for 2023/24. Supported by the Victorian Government’s Community Support Fund, this grant will help create the Wiregrass Main Street Heritage Trail. This is an exciting initiative which aims to shine a light on the social history of rural Australia through the lens of Percy Leason.

Percy Leason grew up in Progress Street Kaniva, across from the railway where his father worked as the local grain merchant. It was a hive of activity and allowed Percy to meet many people in the district as they delivered their wheat on horsedrawn carts. As he grew older, he helped to stack the weighed bags onto railway carriages and often lay on the bags, listening to the conversations around him. He memorised people’s appearances and mannerisms and later drew them in his sketchbook, creating valuable references for what would become his Wiregrass cartoon series. Percy Leason is renowned for his Wiregrass cartoon series and became Australia’s highest-paid cartoonist in the twenties and thirties. His Wiregrass series, set in the mythical town of Wiregrass, reflects the daily life, characters, and spirit of that time.

The Wiregrass Main Street Heritage Trail aims to engage with new audiences through a main street trail with people who may not necessarily engage with traditional art galleries and museums

Key components of the project include:

• Mural: Local artist Sharon Merrett, will recreate some of Percy’s characters to create an Instagram able moment, to engage people in the trail.
• Main Street Heritage Trail: Kaniva’s preserved buildings will serve as trigger points to create a snapshot of life in Kaniva over 100 years ago.
• Exhibition: A permanent exhibition featuring Percy Leason’s cartoons, illustrating various aspects of rural life, from farming and the show to the local fire brigade and church activities.
• Marketing and Promotion: Various forms of digital media plus a brochure will form a strong part of this project and help to tell Percy Leason’s Wiregrass stories to a wide audience.

Percy’s cartoons offer a snapshot of life in the 1920s, capturing the spirit of rural Australian utilising Kaniva’s main street, social life and local characters. Economically, it aims to boost local tourism, extending visitor stays and benefiting local businesses in the accommodation, hospitality, and retail sectors.

KDPA is seeking further financial support to complement the small grant of $14,882.75 and ensure the project’s success. The association has already raised funds through the sale of Silo Art Calendars and received a donation from Australian Art Trails. They will be working directly with Percy’s family members and were recently loaned an extensive collection of Percy Leason cartoons by Peter Perry OAM, former director of Castlemaine Art Gallery, author, historian and custodian of an extensive Percy Leason collection.

A community meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 17th, at 11 am at LINK. Project coordinator Helen Hobbs said “We invite all community members to participate in this exciting project. Whether you have skills in digital media, historical research, arts, or just a passion for Kaniva’s heritage, we need your help to bring this project to fruition. We are also looking for businesses who would like to participate in this project through offering a wall, plaque space, or permanent exhibition space for consideration.”

How to get involved

• Community meeting: RSVP and attend our upcoming community meeting to help shape and drive the project forward. Wed 17th July at 11am at LINK
• Video/ audio: Do you have a Percy Leason story or artwork? Was your relative featured in one of his Wiregrass cartoons? We would love to hear your personal connection to Percy Leason to be promoted through our project.
• Artwork: Do you have any Percy Leason pieces or memorabilia? We would love to be able to use a digitised copy in our project.
• Mural: Just as Percy painted characters from our town, we want you to tell us which characters you love the most, that we could reproduce for our upcoming mural. Keep an eye out for participating opportunities to vote for your favourites.
• Students: If you have a passion for art, social history or digital technologies, we’d love to utilise your skills and expand this project. This could be by way of a major assignment or internship with a stipend.

For more information or to get involved, please contact Helen Hobbs at 0429 888 250 or email kanivaprogress@gmail.com or visit www.kaniva.org/wiregrass.html

The Wiregrass Heritage Trail is a unique opportunity to celebrate Kaniva’s social history through the art of Percy Leason. With the support of the community, this project will not only create a sense of place, but also promote Kaniva as a vibrant tourist destination with a cultural heritage that is fast disappearing from Australia’s urban landscape.

This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 10 July 2024.