Watchem Silo Art
Artist, Matt Adnate was asked by the Watchem Community to create a work on a mini-silo. With the town's advice, he painted two portraits. On one side of the silo is the portrait of Ian McCallum and on the other side is a portrait of Graeme Lang. Both Graeme and Ian were heavily involved in the harness racing industry and became star jockeys, and famous throughout Victoria but particularly in the Mallee. They are homegrown boys from Watchem.
Matt Adnate completed the Watchem Water Tower Art in March 2022. Adnate has used his renowned style and technique to capture a very realistic likeness of the subjects that is subtle in its application and respectful to the subjects.
Harness racing is mourning the loss of legends Graeme Lang having died at age 87 in 2020, and Ian 'Macca' McCallum who passed away in June 2013.
Ian "Macca" McCallum, the inaugural winner of the Gordon Rothacker Medal in 2002 (Victorian trotting's highest accolade) became established a Charlton and was a regular competitor at most central and northwest Victorian meetings.
He thoroughly enjoyed competing at his beloved Mildura, Nyah and Ouyen meetings. Despite having sight in only one eye, he knocked up winning training and driving premierships until a horrific fall at Maryborough in 2008 put an end to his career.
McCallum passed away in June, 2013, aged 82. Two of his best horses over the years were undoubtedly Toffee Gent, a pacer that won its ways through to open class, and square-gaiter Beleva, who took out the 2008 Mildura Trotters Cup, just weeks before his accident. McCallum had two sons to follow him into the sport: Dale, of Charlton, who doesn't drive anymore, but helps out at his hometown club, and Neil (Pecka), of Lockwood, a successful freelance reinsman.
Graeme Lang is regarded a doyen of harness racing. From the late 1960s through to the 80s he was a leading force and is remembered for his horsemanship with preparing brilliant trotter Scotch Notch.
Lang passed away in May, 2020, at the age of 87. He was the 2013 Gordon Rothacker Medallist and a 1998 inductee into the Caduceus Club's Hall of Fame.
He was five times Victoria's leading trainer, twice crowned the States leading driver and in 1979-80 the leading Australian Driver.
Lang's first win was reportedly Vindason on May 1, 1954, and his last was with Save Our Pennys on January 19, 2019, driven by his son Gavin, who died in April the following year. Another son in Chris is an outstanding horseman, trainer and driver.
Location
Hoban Street, Watchem 3482 Map
