Scuttle over to Parkside’s picturesque Burnie Park to find The Giant Freshwater Lobster – an eight-tonne love letter to Tassie’s favourite crustacean.
The colossal crayfish beckons the adventurous. Sitting happily beside a well-appointed playground, it’s not unusual to see little nippers – and not-so-little nippers! – clambering all over him.
But make no mistake, with his manicured mosaic pincers and mildly vexed expression, this four-metre-long yabbie is more than a jungle gym – he’s a work of art-ropod.
Legendary mosaic artist Tony Woodward, that doyen of the Taswegian art scene, created The Lobster in 2002. Tony’s mosaic masterpieces span the length and breadth of the Apple Isle, from the beloved Waiting Room in Rosny to the controversial Mountain Man in Deloraine.
I guess you could say he’s quite versa-tile – teehee!
Tony, sadly, passed away in 2021, but his myriad of mosaic marvels continue to mesmerise the masses. His sister, Margaret, maintains the artworks, ensuring they’ll enthral and delight future generations.
Hopefully The Giant Freshwater Lobster will be on display for many more-nay years to come!
Still A Crayfish After All These Years
I met the Bardot family in Burnie last night
Bigs seemed so glad to see me, I just smiled
Bigella talked about some old times
And Peter Poppins drank all the beers
Still a crayfish after all these years
Oh, I’m still a crayfish after all these years
I’m not the kind of aquatic invertebrate who tends to socialise
Sometimes people won’t climb on me for days
But the Bardots sang me love songs
That they whispered in whatever crustaceans have instead of ears
Still a crayfish after all these years
Oh, I’m still a huge crayfish after all these years
Four in the morning
We were yawning
The Bardots finally went on their way
I’ll never worry
Why should I?
They’ll be back one day
Now I sit by my playground, and I watch the cars
I feel better about my crabby little life today
I now know the world adores me
And will greet me with happy cheers
Still a crayfish after all these years
Oh, still a crayfish
Still a crayfish
I’m still an enormous crayfish after all these years
