A CONTROVERSIAL knitted doll named Tara entered into this year’s Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival is making a very public stand against coal seam gas mining.
Tara, the doll, stands almost two metres tall and weighs around 10 kilograms.
Southern Downs Protection Group secretary Marianne Irvine was the mastermind behind the idea along with Knitting Nannas Against Gas Queensland founder Erica Bates, who sewed the life-sized nanna.
The pair won the Open Category in the Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival one of the most sought after categories.
Mrs Irvine told reporters that the duo didn’t know there were prizes.
“We just thought it would be a good way to get the word out there in our own unique, gentle and humorous way,” Mrs Irvine said.
“Tara certainly seems to be getting the message out.”
Tara was named after the town where the doll was recently used to campaign against coal seam gas.
“We’re getting our message out there with this tree,” she said.
Tara the doll is not alone – a smaller doll named The Brat is perched in the tree above her head, holding a teddy called Save Cecil Plains stuffed with cotton collected from Cecil Plains during a previous rally.
Tara the Knitted Nanna can be seen near the Warwick Commonwealth Bank on Palmerine St until Sunday, 28 July.
