The love affair between Tommy Leembruggen and Port Fairy continues to flourish.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Since moving to the town from Horsham three years ago with his parents, David and Denise, Mr Leembruggen has become a valued member of the community.
His standing has been further elevated with a piece of his art work chosen as the front cover for the 2019-20 Moyneyana Festival program.
This honour was announced at the Moyneyana Festival program launch last week.
The cover includes a painting by Mr Leembruggen, with the work explaining the theme of the festival, also created by Mr Leembruggen, which is Powered by the Community.
The theme comes from Mr Leembruggen's long-time involvement with the Horsham Rockets all abilities athletics group.
In 2012, the group competed in the annual Tri State Games, but soon after lost the financial support of the care agency behind the team.
Undeterred, a group of parents and volunteers joined the athletes to raise the funds needed to keep the group on track.
These efforts were so successful, the group is still competing to this day, with the drive of those involved leading to Tommy coming up with the Rockets name and the Powered by the Community slogan.
"The rocket shows how the community helped power us and meant we could stay together as a team," Mr Leembruggen said.
"The Moyneyana Festival is powered by the community as well so I thought it was a good match."
At the launch, Moyneyana Festival president Neil Hedger presented Mr Leembruggen with a poster of the program front cover.
This summer will be the 72nd installment of the festival, which will run from December 24 to January 26.
Mr Leembruggen said it was an honour to have his work acknowledged by the Moyneyana Festival.
The 32-year-old began painting while he was living in Horsham and has continued to refine his skills in Port Fairy.
He is working on his next art work, a piece inspired by the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland.
Mr Leembruggen's mother, Denise, said her son's artwork demonstrated the extraordinary community and volunteer support behind the Moyneyana Festival and all festivals in Port Fairy.
"This community power further engenders inclusion, diversity, opportunity, education and engagement," she said.
"It is another wonderful Moyneyana Festival in the making."
Proud dad. David, thanked the Moyneyana Festival committee for its support.
"Tom loves living in the supportive and inclusive community of Port Fairy and embraces the many opportunities offered in this area," he said.
"He is very happy to be on the cover."
While his artistic endeavours keep Mr Leembruggen busy, it is only part of what is a full daily diary.
He is part of the Find Your Voice Choir All Abilities Choir and while he no longer lives in Horsham, Mr Leembruggen is still an entrenched member of the Rockets.
He is in training for the 2019 Tri State Games, which will be held in Port Adelaide in November.
"I play table tennis with a friend of mine," Mr Leembruggen said.
"I practice at home, I play against dad, I usually beat him.
"If I am winning he starts trying to spin the ball which makes it a bit harder."
Mr Leembruggen is also a keen ten pin bowler, who, like most who play the sport, loves the thrill of landing a strike.
Another of his sporting passions is football, both as a participant and as a spectator.
Each week he cheers on his AFL team, Essendon, and this season, he has joined the South Warrnambool Hurricanes as a player, having previously played with the Wimmera Whippets.