Mali in the City Auction Catalogue - Zoos Victoria

MALI IN
THE CITY
2012

CONTENTS
1 Director’s Message
2 The Story of Mali in the City
4 Mali, a Brave Ambassador
5 Melbourne Zoo Celebrates 150 Years
6 The Mali in the City Herd
20 Mali in my School
24 Mali in the City Sponsors
Cover image by freshPhotography.com.au
‘Ming Vase Elephant’ by Brian Cheung

DIRECTOR’S
MESSAGE
My connection to Melbourne Zoo began nearly 30 years
ago as a young teacher. I enjoyed eight years as part of
the Education team, and even in the early 80s, Melbourne
Zoo was a place for innovation.
After many years away, I eventually returned as Melbourne
Zoo Director in 2009 and found this instinct to innovate still
ran strongly through the inner workings of our wonderful zoo.
I decided that our anniversary year would be no different.
Although we developed a full calendar of celebratory events
to commemorate the outstanding achievements of 150 years,
the Mali in the City exhibition was to be the most spectacular.
The Zoo has had a long history celebrating the arts, with
our own design team and successful Artists-in-Residence
programs.
Despite this historical connection between the Zoo and art,
Mali in the City was still a particularly ambitious brief.
Inspired by the Zoo’s first-ever elephant calf, Mali, the display
was designed to be a celebration of art, a commemoration
of the Zoo’s wonderful 150 year history, and an inspiration
for our future direction of fighting wildlife extinction. It was
most of all a way to involve all Victorians in our very special
anniversary year.
After six weeks of amazing feedback, I can safely say the
Mali in the City exhibition was a success! Not only did our
magical Malis bring people to the streets of Melbourne to see
the colourful trail of 50 elephants, the fibreglass herd also
inspired thousands of photos, tweets, blog entries, reviews,
facebook posts, videos, letters and even a poem.
For us, the exhibition was also a way of giving back to a
community that has supported our city’s zoo for 150 years.
Melbourne Zoo is certainly the people’s zoo, and without
the support from our local community the Zoo would never
have had the opportunity of becoming the world-class
conservation organisation it is today.
Now Victorians will have the chance to bid for a Mali and
purchase a piece of the Zoo’s wonderful history to take home
or to display in their business premises. I look forward to
finding out where our Mali artworks may be located in the
future.
I would like to thank the Lord Mayor and the team at the
City of Melbourne for helping to create such a memorable
birthday celebration.
I would also like to say ‘thank you’ to the mammoth team of
artists, sponsors, supporters and staff who have worked so
passionately to bring this project to life.
Happy 150th Anniversary Melbourne Zoo!
Kevin Tanner
Melbourne Zoo Director
1

THE STORY OF
MALI IN THE CITY
Elephants have been synonymous with Melbourne Zoo
since 1883. The very first elephant to join the collection
at Melbourne Zoo was named Ranee, arriving from India by
boat and walking from Port Melbourne to the Zoo at night
so the surprise wasn’t spoiled for visitors!
In Melbourne Zoo’s 150 year history, elephants have always
been a popular attraction so it is no surprise that Mali the
elephant was the chosen inspiration behind the flagship event
to celebrate the birthday.
Mali in the City began as a modest idea part of the Zoo’s
anniversary celebrations but like elephants themselves,
quickly grew into a mammoth exhibition that brightened the
wintery city’s streets and captivated the hearts of Victorians
for six weeks.
It was the chance to be able to paint a full-size fibreglass
replica of Mali the elephant that encouraged over 170 people
to make submissions to be considered for the project.
The Zoo was also lucky enough to find 50 sponsors that were
supportive of the Zoo’s conservation goals and as equally
excited about the possibilities of being involved with the
community art project.
After the sponsors were matched with an artist, the talented
creatives set about bringing their blank elephant canvas
to life.
Our 50 artists set to work using a range of interesting
materials including acrylic paint, spray paint, more than 130
balls of wool, stencils, glitter, rubber, recycled rusted metals,
decoupage butterflies, ceramic tiles and even plush elephant
slippers. Even the real Mali the elephant donned a paintbrush
in her trunk to decorate her own sculpture!
Almost half of the artists chose to complete their Mali
sculptures at Melbourne Zoo, seeking inspiration from
their surrounds.
Four lucky Mali sculptures experienced a two-week taste of
city life from the Myer Windows in July, instantly receiving an
amazing reaction from passers-by. It was at this point that we
knew the exhibition was going to be memorable.
At 1.6m high and weighing an average of 665kg with a sturdy
concrete base attached, the brightly painted Mali replicas
certainly captured the city’s attention once the entire herd
of 50 sculptures graced some of Melbourne’s most iconic
destinations in August.
Many families dedicated their weekends to the Mali trail,
using their Mali in the City i-phone app or Herald Sun liftout
to guide them from Docklands, Chinatown, Federation Square,
Bourke St Mall and to the Botanic Gardens to get a photo with
each Mali.
Mali in the City took over the CBD. It was almost impossible to
walk the city streets without encountering one.
People could not walk past the amazing creations without
stopping to get a good look or to pull out their phone to get a
photo. In all her beauty, Mali beckoned Melburnians to admire
her with many peoples instant reaction to get up close and
touch the sculpture.
Mali was the talk of the town allowing many to re-connect
with their city zoo, engaging Victorians in the Zoo’s birthday
as well as raising awareness of threatened species that the
Zoo works so hard to support.
Upon completion of the six week exhibition, many Victorians
were sad to see the sculptures leave the city - a sure sign of a
successful community project.
We look forward to finding out where the beautiful Mali
sculptures end up and are hopeful some sculptures may end
up back in their city locations on permanent display.
Thanks must go to the people of Melbourne for warmly
welcoming Mali into their city.
2

MALI
A BRAVE AMBASSADOR
As the first Asian Elephant ever born during the Melbourne Zoo’s 150 year history
and the first female elephant calf born in Australia, Mali was destined to be special
from the moment she was born two years ago.
Mali, the Thai word for jasmine, is a crowd favourite at the Melbourne Zoo and a perfect
choice to lead the Zoo’s 150th Anniversary celebrations.
Mali and her younger brother Ongard, were nurtured as part of a regional breeding
program aimed at protecting the endangered Asian Elephant from the threat of extinction.
Sadly these wild elephants continue to face many threats in the wild but currently their
biggest challenge is adapting to a diminishing habitat.
Zoos Victoria is striving to become a world leading zoo-based conservation organisation
and our work with Mali and Ongard is just one of many conservation initiatives we are
committed to.
In 2012, Zoos Victoria made a Fighting Extinction Commitment: to ensure that no Victorian
terrestrial vertebrate species becomes extinct. To fulfill this commitment, we are securing
twenty priority threatened species within our care, supporting recovery teams and raising
community awareness of these unique local species.
Zoos Victoria is committed to the recovery of 20 native threatened species, as well
as broad-based conservation programs in six countries, six grass-roots community
conservation campaigns and 54 research projects.
As a not-for-profit conservation organisation, all revenue raised goes towards
providing world-class animal care and our work in continuing to fight the extinction
of threatened species.
For more information on how you can join the fight, head to zoo.org.au
4

MELBOURNE ZOO
CELEBRATES
150 YEARS
Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens started with humble
beginnings in 1862 with a small collection of quails, hens,
pheasants, fish, wombats and kangaroos.
As Australia’s first zoo, a group of conservationists were
enlisted with the huge task of paving the way in science,
zoology and eventually conservation creating the world-class
tourist destination that the people of Melbourne know and
love today.
The matriarch of the Zoos Victoria family, Melbourne Zoo
celebrated its 150 Year Anniversary on October 6, 2012. While
many things have changed throughout our history our core
business remains the same. 150 Years on, Melbourne Zoo is
still caring for animals as well as providing a space for visitors
to interact with and be amazed by the world’s wildlife.
Through this interaction with some of the world’s most
precious species, our three zoos, Healesville Sanctuary,
Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo, hope to
inspire our visitors to reduce threatening processes for
endangered species.
Melbourne Zoo’s 150th Anniversary was a great opportunity
to raise awareness of the plight of local endangered species
as well as a chance to invite all Victorian’s to join in the
celebrations for the milestone year.
There were many opportunities for Victorians to be involved
with the anniversary year packed full of exciting events such
as Rockwiz at the Zoo Twilights show, a Gala Ball, a Comedy
Debate at Fed Square, an invite-only Wild Picnic, special
school holiday concerts performed by Melbourne Symphony
Orchestra and Noni Hazlehurst and of course the flagship
community art event Mali in the City and Mali in my School.
Every anniversary event throughout 2012 has had a higher
purpose to raise awareness of Zoos Victoria’s goal to fight
the extinction of threatened species by helping raise critical
funds for Zoos Victoria’s wildlife conservation efforts.
The Mali in the City exhibition alone successfully encouraged
thousands of people to join in the Zoo’s birthday and even
reunite many with their city zoo.
It’s been a very huge year and we thank you for being
involved in this very memorable anniversary.
5

THE MALI IN THE CITY HERD
Meet the entire herd of beautiful Mali in the
City sculptures that brightened Melbourne’s
City streets during August and September
2012, listed in bidding order.
1. Bromley Two
David Bromley
For years now elephants have appeared in my work. I have
even sculpted and made a bronze work of an elephant in a
bathtub. They are such awe-inspiring characters and it’s a
lovely tribute for Melbourne Zoo to celebrate one of their
family members in commemorating its 150-year anniversary.
Painting the pieces was a lot of fun and I look forward very
much to seeing other interpretations by other creative folk.
2. Enceladus
Ghostpatrol
To create an elephant you must first build the universe.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
6

3. Mirka’s Mali
Mirka Mora
I stole the soul of Mali in the Zoo and implanted
it in the sculpture.
4. No Ordinary Elephant
Nicole Slater
Melbourne Storm Mali, ‘No Ordinary Elephant’, is designed
by exciting young artist Nicole Slater to encapsulate the 2012
Storm marketing campaign and Mali’s iconic presence in the
city which both brands proudly call home. Slater has brilliantly
blended Melbourne Storm’s distinctive playing strip into the
life-sized Mali sculpture, including some specific items from her
husband, Storm and Australian fullback Billy.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
5. Gabriel
Jacqueline Le Souef
‘Don’t let the sun go down on us’. The world’s wonderful
animals are losing their natural environments through the
chopping down of forests, mining and our need for more
housing in our cities. Please remember them before it’s
too late!
6. Mali turns the City Pink
Siemens
At Siemens, we have 140 years of history working in Australia
and are continually striving to contribute to society and the
environment in proactive ways. We believe that Mali turns
the City Pink is an excellent way to demonstrate our strong
commitment to the city of Melbourne and at the same time
showcase imagination and creativity fostering the awareness
for breast cancer in Australia.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
7

7. Shared Path
William Ainger
Man claims the land and its precious natural environment
leaving very little for our animals. There is plenty of space
for both kingdoms and we must responsibly care for both.
My elephant is encased in road gravel as his delicate trunk
offers a lotus flower, a symbol for Mali’s heritage and peace.
8. Spooky Possum Mali
Pippa Makgill
Mali’s design was derived from the image of Dame Edna
Everage and her recent retirement from the stage.
SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY THE HAMILTON FAMILY
9. Ranee
Gillian Forbes
My design pays tribute to Melbourne Zoo’s history and its
ability to adapt, by re-imagining one of the Zoo’s most iconic
emblems, the golden elephant statue, for the milestone 150th
Birthday. Ranee was also Melbourne Zoo’s first elephant.
10. Mali’s Dreaming
Judy Nicholson
This is an adaptation of a dreaming story where Mali, while
sleeping at night, is visited by the Wurundjeri creator Bunjil,
the eagle, and introduced to the traditional animals, plants
and customs of the Wurundjeri people.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
WURUNDJERI TRIBE LAND
& COMPENSATION COUNCIL
8

11. Lotus
Kelly Spencer
I was inspired by a recent trip to Laos when I became
transfixed by the elaborate characters of Hinduism.
Since returning, my work has been influenced by the
colour and symbolism that I experienced there.
12. Faunaphant
Sarah Hogan
The design looks at patterns in birds that have been
interpreted in a contemporary way. Blending feather patterns
with leaves to portray links in nature.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
13. Kevin Presley
Steve Monk
Elvis as an elephant - it seems even elephants can
impersonate the king.
14. City in Mali
Ralf Kempken
My design documents Melbourne’s urban landscape through
the use of spray painted stencils. As Mali sculptures are placed
in the city, my design has placed my city within Mali.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
9

15. Mali is listening to the Earth
Victor Holder
‘Mali is listening to the Earth’ is inspired by my wonder
about the invisible resonances and sounds within
our natural and created world and how wildlife might
experience these two worlds.
16. Baroque Baby
Robert Hague
Traditionally we have patterned the things we cherish most,
as a mark of their value to us and as an act of belonging.
Decoration becomes both a celebration and worship, with
its long visual history linking us to a distant past. Similar to
henna tattoos and richly botanic, these patterns celebrate
Mali as loved and as one of us.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
17. Endangered Asia
Kelly Just
My design is a montage of endangered Asian animals.
It showcases just a few of the many beautiful and unique
species that could be lost forever without the conservation
efforts of organizations such as Zoos Victoria.
18. Jingle
Jessica Rae
There’s a sound in the jungle that’s not a wild roar
but a soft jingle made from the breeze of swaying
elephants and trees.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
10

19. Spot
Steve Monk
My design is a novel way of representing two
endangered species in the one image.
20. Mali Dreams
Chantelle Ferri
This piece awakens possibilities of dream worlds. Conjuring up
feelings of freedom and adventure. The bright vibrant colours
are a celebration of life and nature. Here we can imagine what
Mali dreams of.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
21. Elephantasy
Elise Martinson
Animals have been a powerful source of inspiration and
symbolism for people since the cave men began making
marks on stone. Even the modern day fantasy worlds in
popular culture have been heavily influenced by what
occurs in nature. Just one of the many reasons animals are
an important part of the human experience and should be
preserved for future generations to enjoy.
22. Humangerie
Sally Heinrich
This submission is a community art piece. Herald Sun
readers were invited to draw faces expressing their feelings
about elephants, conservation and the environment, which I
transferred to the sculpture, filling in with some of my own.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
11

23. Urban Jungle
Jake Latimer
The idea behind my design is the fact that urban expansion is
destroying native wildlife. The urban sprawl is taking over the
jungles and harming the wildlife. Playing on this idea, I decided
to use graffiti (a symbolism of the city) directly onto the
elephant to highlight the strong link between the two ideas.
24. Ming Vase Elephant
Brian Cheung
Ming Vase Elephant design was inspired by traditional Chinese
blue and white porcelain-ware as a way to lend a precious
quality to the ‘Elephant’. The dense layer of wildlife, fauna and
flora is meant to remind the audience of the complexity and
intricacy found in nature, which is far too valuable to lose.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
25. Same Same
Max Blackmore
The inspiration behind my idea is evolution and cohabitation,
using the idea of genetics where all animals and humans are
related in some way.
26. Rusty Mali
Russ Brebner
Rusty Mali is created from recycled and reclaimed metals.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
12

27. Stripes
Keri Le Page
The vibrancy of the tiger striped pattern contrast with the calm
blue of the sky was inspired by my time spent backpacking
around the world, experiencing a range of cultures, flora
and fauna. The integrity of the elephant shape remains but
has become concealed in the same way that animals use
camouflage to confound the eye and disguise their presence.
28. Wooly Mali
Mini Goss
I have painted many elephants and love to illustrate their thick,
wrinkly skin. In my new book the knitted characters dress up as
an elephant. Mali in the City is a great opportunity to combine
my love of illustrating elephants with my recent obsession with
knitting. I have knitted Mali new, soft, saggy, woollen skin.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
29. A pattern of
Orange-bellied Parrots
Vanessa Bong
Knowing that the Orange-bellied Parrot was one of our
rarest and endangered species, I was inspired to create a
flying flock to create a pattern of overwhelming colour and
brightness. It reminds us to remember their cause and work
together to ensure that we won’t lose this beautiful creature.
30. Neo Composite
Jacqueline Gwynne
My concept is inspired by Indian and Persian ‘Composite
Elephants’ from the 1600 - 1800s and is also made up of
endangered species. It relates to the interconnectedness of
everything on the planet and is influenced by the pop art of
Andy Warhol.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
13

31. Elephas Maximus
Sharon Muir
Habitat loss is one of the main causes of species loss and the
rainforest habitat of the Asian Elephant is seriously in decline.
Through this work I hope to encourage an awareness of our
fragile ecosystems.
32. Eltham Copper Butterfly Story
Karen Rawady
This design draws attention to the local Eltham Copper
Butterfly, which is listed as ‘threatened’. It tells the story of the
complex interaction between a plant (sweet bursaria), a genus
of ant (notoncus) and the larvae of this attractive butterfly.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
33. Forest rides on
the elephant’s back
Pamela Conder
The forests of Asia are living networks of interdependent life
forms. Elephants play an important role in driving the great
natural cycles of destruction and regeneration that keep the
forests viable, maintaining the range of habitat niches that
support a vast array of organisms.
34. Bromley One
David Bromley
For years now elephants have appeared in my work. I have even
sculpted and made a bronze work of an elephant in a bathtub.
They are such awe-inspiring characters and it’s a lovely tribute
for Melbourne Zoo to celebrate one of their family members in
commemorating its 150-year anniversary. Painting the pieces
was a lot of fun and I look forward very much to seeing other
interpretations by other creative folk.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
14

35. Mali’s Melbourne
Winter Wonderland
Pat Minahan
The ‘magic’ of Melbourne is translated to Mali using
a snowflake design. Reflecting the imaginative world
of children in a winter wonderland.
36. Harmony
Zara Mckenzie
The design for ‘Harmony’ came about by reading the children’s
picture book, patchwork elephant ‘Elmer’. The images in the
patchwork design highlight the beautiful nature of elephants
and some aspects of their habitat. The earthy palette creates
a bold, balanced and harmonious design.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
37. Prayer for Protection
Blaze Warrender
I feel deeply for the predicament of wild animals facing
extinction because of senseless killing and the destruction
of their natural habitat. As Mali’s heritage is from Thailand,
I have focused on some of the endangered species from this
region, with the elephant Mali representing protection and
compassion for all animals.
38. Wave to Mali
Andrea Carydias
My design is inspired by famous artworks of Hokusai and onus
‘Wave to Mali’ symbolises the power and beauty of rolling,
crashing waves that is nature.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
15

39. The Frank Realities
Antonia Marshall
Inspired by the Zoo’s commitment to conservation and
protection of endangered species, my elephant is an
abstract representation of the harsh realities a loss of
habitat can result in.
40. Pond Dreaming
David Higgins
My design is about the love of water. The elephant is standing
in a fresh water pond; light is streaming through the water onto
the elephant’s back and fish and other sea life accompany the
elephant whilst being there.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
41. Jimbo
Janie Fearon
Asian Elephants, Sumatran Tigers and orang-utan’s are all
endangered. I wanted to incorporate them into my design
to raise awareness of their struggle to survive.
42. Night and Day
Graeme Base
The idea of an elephant with leopard spots first appeared in a
book I did in 2004 called ‘Jungle Drums’. The elephant in that
story lost his trunk as well as getting covered in spots - he was
having a very bad day - at least my Mali did not suffer that
indignity!
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
16

43. Helmeted Honeyeaters Habitat
Andrea Carydias
My design gave me an opportunity to showcase the
threatened Helmeted Honeyeater and native flora.
The Helmeted Honeyeater is happy to ride on the
back of Mali to highlight wildlife conservation.
44. Botáni
Michael Skilney
Botáni is an Australian company noted for their innovative
natural skin care solutions. They are vegan friendly, against
animal testing and use only organic plant actives. The main
colour of ‘Botáni’ symbolizes their green, eco-friendly approach
to skincare while the branches and foliage pay homage to the
key ingredient in all of their products which is Olive Squalene,
derived from the humble olive.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
45. Here Today…
Elise Martinson
Here today…gone tomorrow. The existence of threatened
and endangered species is a fragile thing. Populations are
disintegrating as a result of human activities and climate
change. We need to take action before it’s too late!
46. Mali’s Crimson Song
Mia Rappel
Mali’s Crimson Song is inspired by the weaving together of
many parts to create one. Just as the colours burst into life
from reds to golds, blending and interacting; so does our world -
in our landscapes, our communities and in ourselves.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
17

47. Tiger Mali
Andy Murphy
This Mali is not your typical elephant! Representing the
Melbourne Tigers Basketball Club, the ‘Tiger Mali’ is bringing
basketball back to the heart of Melbourne! The Tigers season
runs from October to March, playing out of Hisense Arena &
State Netball Hockey Centre. Visit www.tigers.com.au
48. Patch
Amy Robinson
The patchwork design demonstrates the benefits of combining
individual efforts to achieve a more spectacular result.
Referencing the need for individuals and groups around the
globe to work in combination to achieve a larger and more
stable elephant population.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
NOT FOR SALE
GIFTED TO THE
CHILDREN OF
MELBOURNE
49. Self-Portrait
Mali the Elephant
This is Mali’s first piece of artwork. She was inspired by
Melbourne Zoo’s 150th Birthday Year, her family and the love
of her trail home.
50. Mali, Protector of all animals
DebORAH Halpern
Mali, the paradoxical little elephant was born in captivity to
represent the endangered creatures on our planet. Mali shines
light on the plight of the planet and our part in the health
and well being of the animals, plants, air and water. It’s our
responsibility to honour her life. We must secure the planet
for the future of the animals, plants and future generations
of humans.
SPONSORED BY
ZOOS VICTORIA
MEMBERS
SPONSORED BY
18

A GIFT FROM THE
LORD MAYOR’S
CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Deborah Halpern with
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle
With the 49 other Mali in the City sponsors, the Lord
Mayor’s Charitable Foundation has been a key part of
the success of the Mali in the City exhibition throughout
Melbourne Zoo’s 150th Anniversary year.
The mission of the Foundation is to increase life
opportunities and promote social inclusion through
fundraising, partnerships and the distribution of grants
to charitable agencies supporting people who are socially
and economically disadvantaged.
Zoos Victoria was very pleased when the Foundation
announced that they would extend this support to our
conservation and fighting extinction goals as part of their
newly launched Proactive Grants Program.
Through its Grants Program, the Foundation has recognised
the importance of using arts, sport and education, and
environment projects to provide opportunities for social
inclusion and to increase life opportunities.
To bring their Mali to life, the Lord Mayor’s Charitable
Foundation commissioned renowned mosaic artist, Deborah
Halpern, who created a spectacular masterpiece with
thousands of brightly coloured custom made tiles.
Deborah’s creation, Mali, Protector of all Animals became
a crowd favourite just like the original Mali herself. The
stunning artwork captured the attention of thousands of
Melburnians and visitors during her six week stay out the
front of Melbourne Town Hall.
When the time came for Mali, Protector of all Animals to
return to the Zoo along with her 49 fibreglass cousins, the
Foundation decided that the children of Melbourne should
be able to enjoy the striking sculpture for years to come.
This generous gift to the children of Melbourne will
make a significant contribution to Zoos Victoria’s wildlife
conservation work both here in Australia and overseas and
is the culmination of a year’s support that Zoos Victoria has
received from the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.
Baby Mali has been the symbol of Melbourne Zoo’s 150th
year and we are thrilled that she will continue to delight
passers-by as she continues to spread the message of
conservation and hope.
Zoos Victoria is very grateful for this support throughout
Melbourne Zoo’s Anniversary year and we look forward to
enjoying Mali, Protector of all Animals in her new, permanent
city home.
Zoos Victoria Chairman,
Andrew Fairley with
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle
19

MALI IN
MY SCHOOL
Fifty-five miniature versions of the fibreglass Mali
sculptures made their way out to primary and secondary
schools across Victoria during Melbourne Zoo’s
Anniversary year.
Mali in My School was a sister event to the Mali in the City
program, allowing schools to also join the celebrations
for the birthday, and engage students in Zoos Victoria’s
Fighting Extinction strategy to protect local threatened
species.
The lucky schools spent countless hours discussing design
and decorating techniques, with many schools taking
submissions from students, appointing working groups
to champion the project, or even allowing each and every
student to apply artwork to their 3D canvases.
The Mali sculptures were treated as very special guests
from the moment they arrived with many schools planning
welcome parties, inviting the local paper, incorporating
her into their school life and even parading her around at
school events!
Each school also received a visit from a member of
Melbourne Zoo’s education team to hear more about the
real Mali, and the many threats and challenges many of her
cousins face in the wild.
Once the Mali masterpieces were complete, the schools
exhibited their 70cm fibreglass sculptures in their local
communities for a number of weeks before they returned
to Melbourne Zoo for public display.
The Mali in my School sculptures will eventually make their
way home to their schools for permanent display.
20

Anakie Primary
School
Bairnsdale West
Primary School
Banyan Fields
Primary School
Box Hill
High School
Brighton
Grammar
School
Christ the
Priest Primary
School
Coatesville
Primary School
Athol Road
Primary School
Balcombe
Grammar School
Boisdale
Consolidated
School
Box Hill North
Primary School
Buxton Primary
School
Christian
College Junior
School
Coleraine
Primary School
Thank you to all the participating schools:
Anakie Primary School
Athol Road Primary School
Bairnsdale West Primary School
Balcombe Grammar School
Banyan Fields Primary School
Boisdale Consolidated School
Box Hill High School
Box Hill North Primary School
Brighton Grammar School
Buxton Primary School
Christ the Priest Primary School
Christian College Junior School
Coatesville Primary School
Coleraine Primary School
Dandenong North Primary School
Delacombe Primary School
Dingley Primary School
Forest St Primary School
Garfield Primary School
Gisborne Secondary College
Hamlyn Banks Primary School
Holy Name Primary School
Katandra School
Korowa Anglican Girls’ School
Lake Charm Primary School
Lalor Primary School
Lysterfield Primary School
Malvern Central School
Melbourne City School
Methodist Ladies’ College
Milgate Primary School
Mount Dandenong Primary School
Mount Waverley Primary School
Mullauna College
Nathalia Secondary College
Oakleigh Primary School
Officer Primary School
Patterson River Secondary College
Roberts McCubbin Primary School
Rolling Hills Primary School
Roxburgh Rise Primary School
Rye Primary School
Scoresby Secondary College
Shelford Girls’ Grammar
Somers School Camp
Springside College
St Albans East Primary School
St Ita’s Catholic Primary School
St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School
St. Paul’s Primary School
Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School
Sunbury Primary School
Sunbury West Primary School
Taylors Lakes Primary School
Truganina South Primary School
Dandenong
North Primary
School
Delacombe
Primary School
21

Dingley
Primary School
Forest St
Primary School
Garfield
Primary School
Gisborne
Secondary
College
Hamlyn Banks
Primary School
Holy Name
Primary School
Katandra
School
Korowa Anglican
Girls’ School
Lake Charm
Primary School
Lalor Primary
School
Lysterfield
Primary School
Malvern
Central School
Melbourne
City School
Methodist
Ladies’ College
Milgate Primary
School
Mount
Dandenong
Primary School
Mount Waverley
Primary School
Mullauna
College
Nathalia
Secondary
College
Oakleigh
Primary School
Officer Primary
School
22

Patterson River
Secondary College
Roberts
McCubbin
Primary School
Rolling Hills
Primary School
Roxburgh Rise
Primary School
Rye Primary
School
Scoresby
Secondary
College
Shelford Girls’
Grammar
Somers School
Camp
Springside
College
St Albans East
Primary School
St Ita’s Catholic
Primary School
St. Paul’s
Primary School
St Paul’s Anglican
Grammar School
Strathcona
Baptist Girls
Grammar School
Sunbury
Primary School
Sunbury West
Primary School
Taylors Lakes
Primary School
Truganina South
Primary School
Zoos Victoria would like to thank the 55 schools for
their involvement in the program.
Mali in my School would not have been possible without
the generous support of our program partners, VicSuper
and JetPets.
23

MALI IN THE CITY
SPONSORS
Principal Sponsors:
ANZ
City of Melbourne
Presenting Partner:
Wild in Art
Media Partners:
Herald and Weekly Times
Channel Ten & The Project
Zoos Victoria’s 50 Mali in the City sponsors embraced the unique
pachyderm parade from the moment they signed on to be part of the
program. Each sponsor was enthusiastic, creative and supportive of
the many elements involved with the program.
Zoos Victoria is proud to acknowledge the entire herd of sponsors who
helped make Mali in the City possible.
Zoos Victoria would like to thank Roger McIlroy representing
Deutscher and Hackett for their services donated in kind for the
Mali in the City Auction.
Image courtesy
of James Morgan
Emerald Sponsors:
Lite n’ Easy
Schweppes
Deakin University
PwC
Mali in the City Sculpture Sponsors:
Boston Consulting Group
Botáni Skincare
Buller Ski Lifts
Carter Digital
Clark Rubber
Cookers
EcoFuture
Equipsuper
Eureka Skydeck
Gribbles Veterinary Pathology
Grollo Leisure & Tourism
Healesville Sanctuary
InterContinental Hotel Group
I. Irvine & Associates
Kärcher
Kingston Development
Linfox
Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation
Melbourne Marriott Hotel
Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club
Melbourne Tigers Basketball Club
Melbourne Zoo
Mitchell Family Office
Orange Power
Patagonia
Places Victoria
Queen Victoria Market
Richmond Football Club
Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing
Siemens
Sofitel
Spotlight Stores Charitable Foundation
Streets
The Hamilton Family
The University of Melbourne –
Melbourne Medical School
Tiger Airways Australia
VicSuper
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Wurundjeri Tribe Land & Compensation
Cultural Heritage Council Inc.
Zoos Victoria Foundation
Zoos Victoria Members
24

5 ways to
Fight Extinction...
3 Advocate
Visit the orang-utans and
be inspired to save their
wild cousins. Tell the food
industry that you want
100% Certified
Sustainable Palm Oil.
1 Pledge
You can help protect local species like
koalas simply by buying recycled
toilet paper. Do you have
a guilt-free bum?
4 Recycle
Help protect gorillas in the wild by recycling
your old mobile phone. Visit the gorillas and pick
up a pre-paid satchel.
THEY’RE
CALLING
ON YOU
2 Buy
Buy handcrafted beadwork from
our zoo shops, and help change
the lives of people and wildlife
in Northern Kenya. Visit the
baboons to find out more.
5 Support
Support Zoos Victoria in fighting the extinction
of 20 local species by becoming a Zoo Member or
Adopt an Animal. Visit the Wild Encounters,
Memberships & Sales booth near the Main Gate
or call 1300 ZOOSVIC.