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Rotary Dolphin Community Wishing Well

Rotary Dolphin Community Wishing Well

Public Art: Rotary Dolphin Community Wishing Well

Sculptors: © Joan and Charlie Smith

Sculptors’ website: www.smithsculptors.com

Engineer and design: DSM Consulting Engineers

Rotary Dolphin Community Wishing Well

Description: The dolphin wishing well features three larger than life one tonne bronze dolphins that rotate 360 degrees when $2 is placed in the dispenser. The three bronze dolphins are in honor of Rajah, Mila and Echo, three much loved bottle nosed dolphins who died mysteriously in 1999.

Date Unveiled:The Rotary Dolphin Wishing Well was unveiled on the 30th of May, 2010.

Commissioned By: Rotary Club of Hillarys and the Rotary Club of Wanneroo.

Cost: $200,000

Location: The Dolphin Wishing Well is located at the Breakwater end of Sorrento Quay, Southside Drive, Hillary Boat Harbour, Hillarys, Western Australia.

Inscription:

The Rotary Dolphin
Community Wishing Well

was officially opened by
his worship, Troy Pickard, Mayor of the City of Joondalup

May 30th. 2010

The inspriation for this wishing well came from Rajah, Mila and Echo, three popular bottle nosed dolphins once seen in this harbour by hundred and thousands of visitors.

The wishing well was made possible by the combined effort of the Rotary Clubs of Hillarys and Wanneroo, supported by Lotterywest, the City of Joondalup and the Government of Western Australia, with special thanks to the local community and many businesses for their generosity.

Proceeds from the wishing well benefit the community

The dolphin sculpture was created by Joan and Charlie Smith of Aislinn Studios.
The wishing well engineering was undertaken by DSM Consulting Engineers.
Committee: Clive Bain, Bill Kell, Geoff Power, Bill Holman, David Kilvington and Robin Russell.

Background to Rajah, Mila and Echo: The three bottle nosed dolphins, Rajah, Mila and Echo where a popular tourist attraction at Hillarys for many years, before all three died mysteriously in 1999. The dolphins were originally part of Atlantis, an aquatic park in Yanchep but when it closed down they were rehabilitated for release back into the wild. Unfortunately, this didn’t go very well and a decision was made to relocated them to a penned enclosure at AQWA at Hillarys.

There they had all the attention they ever wanted and thousands upon thousands of adoring fans. For 8 years they were the star attraction of Hillarys Boat Harbour before the fateful day they were all found dead. Though the cause of death was never known, but it was believed they had been poisoned.

The wishing well co-ordinator Robin Russell said “People who had seen Rajah, Mila and Echo at Hillarys Boat Harbour sent messages and money from as far away as England when they first heard there was to be a wishing well,”

Things You May Not Know About The Dolphin Wishing Well:

The money made from the wishing is distributed amongst several community projects identified by the Rotary Clubs of Hillarys and Wanneroo.

It took nearly 10 years for the wishing well to go from conception to completion.

Useful Links: www.rotarydolphinshillarys.com.au , www.hillarysboatharbour.com.au

References: Dolphins Homeward Bound, 03/Nov/2009, Margaret Price, Joondalup Times (web article)

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