For three months, the master of a bronze statue of Mary Poppins has been taking shape in Rhyl Hinwood’s Kenmore Hills studio.
And it looks nothing like Julie Andrews – the actor who made the magical nanny famous in the Walt Disney film from 1964.
Dr Hinwood usually carves sandstone as The University of Queensland sculptor but is sculpting Mary for the city of Maryborough, the birthplace of the author who created Poppins, Pamela Travers.
After breaking her wrist recently, the sculptor welcomed a softer option to carving stone.
“The figure is almost modeled. I have yet to do the carpet bag that had all her magic tricks in it and also the umbrella,” Dr Hinwood said.
The clay modeling on Mary’s 1.5 metre- steel armature skeleton has been based on a UQ Arts student from Atherton – Imogen Marnane.
“I’ve known her all her life virtually and she just seemed to have the right personality and characteristics.”
Forming the clay master had been a challenge in hot and windy conditions in Brisbane but when complete Mary will stand on the footpath near her creator’s birthplace.
The statue will show her in a suit, lace blouse, wearing a hat with flowers and gloves and about to open her umbrella with a carpet bag at her feet.
Maryborough residents and its Proud Marys Association have raised more than $40,000, with $5500 each from its city council and the State Government for the statue.
“The Proud Marys wanted to have a depiction of Mary Poppins based on the illustrations by Mary Shepherd in the original book, and not the Disney version which portrayed her as too sugary sweet.
“Because subsequently, Walt Disney made a very successful movie but he changed quite a lot of the images and the character of Mary Poppins much to the chagrin of the author.
“In no way is she to look like Julie Andrews.”
Mary’s bronze statue will be cast in a Brisbane foundry and installed in Maryborough by August next year.
Media: contact Dr Hinwood on (phone: 07 3378 3808) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications on (phone: 3365 2619 or m.holland@uq.edu.au)
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