Governor of Victoria Professor David de Kretser, second from left, at the official opening of Healesville’s RACV Country Club with, from left, Yarra Ranges mayor Len Cox, RACV board president John Isaac and sculptor Konstantin Dimopoulos, with Blue Tree in a Red Landscape in the background.
By Kath Gannaway
THE re-created RACV Healesville Country Club was officially opened last week by the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser.
The $85 million dollar resort has opened its doors twice before – on Black Saturday the partly completed resort was a haven for local residents escaping the flames, and in November last year the finished, polished product opened for business.
Last Wednesday formalised the redevelopment of the club, almost 50 years after the RACV first established a presence in Healesville.
Prof de Kretser congratulated the RACV saying it was a wonderful way to serve its membership.
“I am clearly in favour of what I see here,” he said commenting on the design which he said allows the buildings to sit into the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley.
“It has minimum impact but allows guests to feel part of the environment which surrounds them,” he said.
He noted the RACV’s role following the bushfires and said the club would continue to make a valuable contribution to the local community.
“Healesville, however, is not the only community to benefit – good clubs connect people,” he said.
“In a world where technology has allowed us to remain at a distance while still keeping in touch, clubs such as this where people come together physically with family and friends keep us active and connected.”
RACV CEO Colin Jordan said Healesville was a major investment for the organisation.
“Our commitment to our members and to the town of Healesville is clearly demonstrated by our significant investment in this building and the whole site,” he said.
He said the club had tripled in size with 20,000 square metres of new buildings, improved and modern dining facilities, conference and meeting rooms and extensive recreational facilities.
“This is the culmination of many years of work by many dedicated people,” he said.
Prof de Kretser also unveiled a sculpture which was commissioned for the main forecourt.
Sculptor Konstantin Dimopoulos said he was proud of the work which creates a link to the vertical and horizontal elements of the architecture, and to the Black Saturday experience.
The work is titled Blue Tree in a Red Landscape and Dimopoulos said the work reflects both the fragility and the strength of the human spirit.
He visited Healesville a number of times before settling on a design and said hearing of how the Healesville community came to stay at the RACV during and after the fires, he said he also wanted to create a link to that experience.
“It looks like it could fall down, but it is also strong,” he said.
Dimopoulos said the work allowed him to push boundaries and create a structure which was on the edge.
“It is good to get a commissioner who allows you to do that,” he said.
