WHEN Barbara Wollner at Gulfland Souvenirs lets her creative streak loose, you’d better duck for cover.
Well, not exactly, but Barbara’s artistic sense of fun shows itself quite blatantly at the shop. You’ll know what we mean the minute you walk in, because the ceiling space is just packed with mobiles she has created from items other people might dismiss as junk ... before they see what someone artistic can make of it.
Themes for her mobiles include teapots and strainers, clocks, horseshoes, cup handles, chooks (not real ones), ginger beer bottles, old tools, door accessories, old spoons, cowbells, records, keys, bottle openers, phones and spectacles, Wicked vans, keyrings and wristwatches. The latest one is a scissor mobile!
As well, Barbara uses her creative touch with leadlighting and makes jeans bags on her 1948 hand-wound Singer sewing machine, which you can see at the shop. In fact, people often like to take her photo as she sits sewing. The shop also stocks general souvenirs including postcards, embroidered caps and the best range of shirts in the Gulf.
Gulfland Souvenirs is open seven days from May to October from 7.30am to 5.30pm. While you’re there, meet the resident brolgas, Gregory and Mrs Peck. In past years, they have raised a baby while they’re at their Normanton residence (usually June to November) but nowadays they’re retired from all that baby-making stuff. Seeing the brolgas is one of the highlights for most visitors. Ask about buying a share in Mr and Mrs Peck - funds raised go back into the community. Sometimes other brolgas pop in for the season too. You might meet Sweet Pea while you’re there.
Barbara also deserves much of the credit for the railway station’s garden, along with one of the railway men. They have it looking incredibly lush and tropical, with colour and flowers everywhere.
