The cost to clean, repair and repaint the Big Rainbow is $1500. The cost of adding sparkle will not be known until the contractor is available in the New Year. 

Vandals recently sprayed graffiti on the Big Rainbow at Daylesford Victoria Park. The well publicised vandalism happened after the Hepburn Shire Council had just had the rainbow refreshed, ready for next year’s ChillOut celebrations. 

Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that he, the councillor group and the organisation would not tolerate “a small few in the community who attempt to spread misinformation and deface public property with discriminatory language”. 

“Council stands firm in its commitment to combating hate in all forms. Council will not tolerate homophobia, racism or any behaviour that seeks to diminish and devalue another’s life experience. 

“We believe in the values of respect, kindness, and equality for all. I want to make it clear that we will not tolerate bigotry.

“We will not tolerate homophobia. And we will not tolerate racism. We are proud of the diverse, vibrant, and inclusive community we live in. Together, we will continue to stand against hate and discrimination in all forms.” 

Many people commented about the incident on social media. 

“Very sad that some in our community feel like they need to deface a symbol designed to represent diversity and unity.” 

“That is just so disappointing and really reflects on the childishness of the perpetrators. Pathetic behaviour.” 

“The council was covering it when we were there. Unbelievable, makes my heart heavy. It’s childish. Regardless of your personal beliefs.” 

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed 

Recent acts of antisocial behaviour around the the Hepburn Shire are deeply concerning, the Hepburn Shire Council says, following the recent vandalism of Daylesford’s Big Rainbow.

In a media statement following the recent vandalism, the council said: “Hepburn Shire has long prided itself on being a welcoming, inclusive and supportive community that practices respect and celebrates diversity. However, recently Council has been made aware of several appalling incidents that are intending to spread hate and fear”.  

Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that he, the Councillor group and the organisation will not tolerate a small few in the community who attempt to spread misinformation and deface public property with discriminatory language.  

“Council stands firm in its commitment to combating hate in all forms. Council will not tolerate homophobia, racism or any behaviour that seeks to diminish and devalue another’s life experience.” 

“These recent incidents are against everything this community stands for. We believe in the values of respect, kindness, and equality for all. I want to make it clear that we will not tolerate bigotry. We will not tolerate homophobia. And we will not tolerate racism,” he said. 

“We are proud of the diverse, vibrant, and inclusive community we live in. Together, we will continue to stand against hate and discrimination in all forms. We urge anyone witnessing such behavior to report it to the relevant authorities and to stand with those who are affected by it,” said Cr Henderson. 

The council encouraged anyone affected by the recent incidents to reach out to medical professionals for support suggesting that for immediate support and online counselling, they should contact: 

• Lifeline website or call 13 11 14, available 24/7 

• Kids Helpline – confidential and anonymous online and phone counselling for people aged 5 to 25 

Daylesford’s Big Rainbow will be returned to its original glory after it is painted in December.   

A Hepburn Shire Council spokesperson said the council had scheduled some minor repairs and full painting of the rainbow “so it is looking its best for the next ChillOut event”.

Quotations for the works close this week.   

The move comes after a number of people, including ChillOut Festival committee members, said the Rainbow, at Victoria Park, was started to looking a little tired.   

Committee member Tom Shaw, pictured above with fellow member Nell Simpson, said it was time for the Rainbow to be restored, with bits of paint peeling off along with some strips of timber coming away from the structure.   

“It came with a budget for maintenance but originally it was built for Sydney so  maybe it was never designed to withstand Daylesford weather and temperatures,” Tom said.   

“But it is pretty embarrassing for ChillOut especially, with a big sign saying ‘Big Rainbow in here’ and then it’s really a bit of a white elephant.”   

Tom said the Big Rainbow had pretty much failed to sparkle from day one.   

“It’s a bit dull and while it might have sparkled on one side, it didn’t on the other and that’s the one people see and get their photo taken in front of.   

“It is certainly in decline now and in need of maintenance and having some money spent on it.”   

Tom said quite a few people in the community had told him they had brought friends to see the Rainbow and many were underwhelmed.

“It is something we really need to be proud of in our little rainbow community here – but it just doesn’t sparkle. And it’s only in its first year – it won’t make many more at this rate.”   

A Hepburn Shire Council spokesperson said the council was monitoring the condition of the Big Rainbow which includes a full structural engineering assessment every six months, as was recommended at the time of installation.   

They said with some of the deterioration of the timber panelling, the repair works were being bought forward to minimise any further deterioration. The repairs will be   followed by complete repainting of the rainbow.   

A Tinder spokesperson said the council were responsible for the upkeep.

“We have been in recent comms with them and they are actively looking into this right now.”

Voting for the placement of Tinder’s Big Rainbow closed in June 2022. The final town choices were Daylesford, Hay, Broome and Katherine.

Daylesford was announced as the winner in October 2022.   

Words: Donna Kelly. Images: Eve Lamb    

DAYLESFORD’S Victoria Park has been chosen as the site of Tinder’s Big Rainbow with the aim
to have installation completed by the ChillOut Festival in March.
Daylesford was selected from a shortlist of four locations around Australia, including Broome in WA, Hay in NSW and Katherine in the NT, and announced as the winner in October last year.

Hepburn Shire Council then invited feedback from the community on where the Big Rainbow should be located with four potential options in Daylesford – Victoria Park, the Lost Children’s Reserve, the Community Skate Park and Lake Daylesford.
The landmark is six metres high by 12 metres wide and painted in the colours of the 2018 Progress Pride Flag. It is made from marine-grade plywood.
Mayor Cr Brian Hood said Victoria Park was the standout position from both a community and council view. Cr Hood said each of the other three sites had concerns which played against them being a viable option. The Lost Children’s Reserve was not the place for a “secondary feature” for historical reasons, the skate park did not have the room and Lake Daylesford was seen to be a natural environment. Victoria Park also had the connection with ChillOut and the LGBTIQA+ community, along with staging other events, plenty of parking and easy accessibility for people wanting to visit the Big Rainbow and have their photo taken.
“It just seemed like the logical choice of the four – and it certainly had the strongest vote from the public of the four sites.”
Cr Hood said things like lighting and signage were still under consideration with the issue of vandalism also being monitored closely once the installation was complete. Most “big” installations in Australia are privately owned and closed at night.
Tinder will pay for the installation and maintenance for three years after which
“the council of the day” will make a decision on its future.
Cr Hood said accepting the donation of the Big Rainbow from a dating app was carefully considered but at the end of the day, the symbolism of acceptance, understanding and diversity won out.
“Tinder was a topic of conversation, and we are mindful that dating apps have
their problems, but on balance overall we thought the positives were pretty strong
and it was compatible with council’s policies and that swayed us.”
Cr Hood said extra visitors, keen to be photographed with Australia’s latest “big thing” would also bring an economic benefit to the region.
Asked if people might try to climb the structure for the ultimate selfie, Cr Hood
said, with a height of six metres, that would be “fraught with danger”.
“I hope that people would just want their photo taken from the ground but you
can’t rule out that people might be tempted to try and climb it.”
Tessa Halliday, the council representative on the shire’s LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee said the need for a symbol of pride was still relevant.
“We have come a long way but until we can say that every member of the LGBTIQA+ community is safe, accepted and included we still have work to do.
“We are lucky to live in a very supportive community, however this doesn’t mean that there aren’t people in our community that are struggling with their identity or sexuality. “The symbol of pride lets them know that they are important to the community and that they are safe to be themselves. The Big Rainbow says ‘you are safe here’.
Daylesford is also a haven for visitors, a place where they feel safe to be themselves as
they may not be able to at home.”
Cr Halliday said it was easy to look at the positives in the community, “from amazing accepting parents to supportive health providers, however not everyone has this experience”.
“Mental health and suicide rates are still the highest in the LGBTIQA+
community compared to the wider community. It is important that we remember
that the rainbow is a symbol for the LGBTIQA+ community, not a symbol for a
dating site. The dating site will not have any signage on the Big Rainbow.”
In answer to a few other questions from The Local, a council spokesperson said
the Big Rainbow would be a public structure with time-controlled lighting to be
installed to illuminate it.
The spokesperson said the council was still planning signage options and would
ensure the Big Rainbow was well signposted.
In relation to people climbing the structure, this will be discouraged by plantings
around the base.
The Big Rainbow was designed in collaboration with members of the LGBTIQA+
community and the First Nations community.
As part of the promotion, Tinder is also donating $100,000 in grants to a number
of community groups around Australia.
Tinder did not get back to The Local after emails asking which groups would be
in the running for the grants.
Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Contributed

SO, the Big Rainbow is coming to Daylesford.
I kinda thought we would win. I mean the other towns were a little bit,
well, not really on my gaydar. But then, maybe they are LGBTIQA+.
I have been to Katherine in the Northern Territory and I can’t say it glittered. Not
at the time anyway. Broome in Western Australia has an awesome outdoor cinema
and amazing sunsets, but not really any rainbows as such. Hay in New South Wales?
Never been there, so not sure.
Anyway, we have won, although if you check out the Big Rainbow Project at
www.bigrainbowproject.com.au, there’s nothing about Daylesford winning. Still just
lists the four finalists and tells people to stay tuned. Strange.
The Big Rainbow is a Tinder initiative, that’s a dating website. It was launched at
a hackathon in Hatch Labs in 2012 and is the world’s most popular app for meeting
new people. It’s also pretty widely thought of as a website where you can hook up for
casual sex. I don’t know, I have been married a very long time and don’t know about
sex any more.
Anyway, I never thought I would be writing about Hepburn Shire Council and
Tinder in the same sentence. But there you go. (I do know some people have talked
about the council and another word for sex in relation to The Rex. Bit rude.)
Anyway, about 16,000 people around Australia voted, with most for the Big
Rainbow to be placed in Daylesford. The council are saying that was akin to public
consultation. Oddly, there was no way to say you didn’t want the Big Rainbow. In
reply to a query from myself, a council spokesperson said if someone didn’t want the
Big Rainbow in Daylesford, they just had to vote for another town. I asked what if
they didn’t want to foist it onto any town. No answer. Hmmm.
So, now that we have all decided we want the Big Rainbow here, we have to
decide where it goes. There are lots of ideas on Facebook. Someone said on top of The
Rex because it needs all the good luck possible. Someone said to link the BP servo
with the units opposite. They need luck too. Someone else said upside down at the
Skate Park. That’s quite smart. Someone else said Creswick. That’s just dumb.
Despite it just being announced on Wednesday, the council has already chosen
four possible spots. (I must have missed that bit of public consultation.) So we can
now choose, through the council’s Participate Hepburn website, to have it at Lake
Daylesford, the Skate Park, Victoria Park or the Lost Children’s Reserve. Not the one
at Musk, the one on the road to Ballarat opposite the Mill Markets.
They are apparently the best spots because, being council-owned, they don’t need
planning permits. And those permits can be pesky things sometimes. Damn you, The
Rex, costing more than $1 million to renovate.
But I am not sure. Lake Daylesford is a pristine, natural area and if you got rid of
the geese because they are not indigenous to the region, surely a big rainbow sculpture
is not quite right. The Skate Park doesn’t have a lot of parking and is pretty regularly
vandalised from what I hear. Victoria Park? Perfect for ChillOut but a little isolated
the rest of the year. Lost Children’s Reserve? Surely that is a monument for the three
young children who died who we apparently can never forget. (No hate mail please.)
But never fear. Mayor Drylie said the council would never choose not to listen to
its ratepayers and those four sites are not the only ones on the table, although they
are the only ones listed at Participate Hepburn. So keep those ideas coming. Maybe
it needs to be on wheels and move around the region? Who says big things have to be
stationary? It could be Australia’s first mobile big thing. Just sayin’…