Devotion
This little statue is a nice place to leave Derby today. In many ways it sums up the spirit of the town. It stands in the grounds of the old Schoolhouse Museum and as you can see it features a young woman with hands clasped and head bowed. Behind her there is a smaller child with school bag. Devotion and respect. These two words sum up the attitude local residents have to their place.
They've been through boom times and bust (typical of mining communities). They've experienced the flooding disaster and dam break of 1929 that killed 14 townsfolk, endured long decades of economic decline. But their faith has been rewarded in a most unexpected way. Who would have thought that a group of young people mad about bikes would turn this place into the premier mecca of mountain biking in Australia, and a magnet for the world.
Little towns of the world, don't lose hope!
Devotion
This little statue is a nice place to leave Derby today. In many ways it sums up the spirit of the town. It stands in the grounds of the old Schoolhouse Museum and as you can see it features a young woman with hands clasped and head bowed. Behind her there is a smaller child with school bag. Devotion and respect. These two words sum up the attitude local residents have to their place.
They've been through boom times and bust (typical of mining communities). They've experienced the flooding disaster and dam break of 1929 that killed 14 townsfolk, endured long decades of economic decline. But their faith has been rewarded in a most unexpected way. Who would have thought that a group of young people mad about bikes would turn this place into the premier mecca of mountain biking in Australia, and a magnet for the world.
Little towns of the world, don't lose hope!