OUR EXPERIENCES
OUR EXPERIENCES
LEGO® Fan Events are held every year all over the world and across Australia. Some members are lucky enough to visit these events and exhibit or go for a look. Check out what members from LCLUG have got up to recently at these amazing events!
MOUNT GAMBIER SHOW 2019
The recent Mount Gambier Spring Show hosted a LEGO® display curated by members of the LCLUG. Malcom, Annmarie, Damien, Duke and Scott collaborated to create a diverse showcase of LEGO® sets and MOCs.
A large number of people of all ages were delighted by the display over the two days. Sets and themes on display included a wide selection of vehicles, trains and buildings, along with popular themes such as Star Wars and Harry Potter.
Some members of LCLUG are not busy working on their exhibits for Brickvention 2020.
Members from the Limestone Coast LEGO® User Group participated in Brixpo, a LEGO® fan event held in Adelaide. Over two days, the sold-out event saw over 5,000 people pass through the doors to see LEGO® sculptures created by over one hundred talented builders.
Amongst them was local exhibitor Malcolm who displayed his model of Mount Gambier’s old, old hospital. Created with more than 25,000 LEGO® bricks, the model was one of the biggest and most impressive builds on display. The accurate recreation of the hospital, made possible by carefully studying old photos, was well received by all who viewed it.
Another local exhibitor from Mount Gambier, Scott, displayed a ramshackle cottage creation entitled Misfit Lodge (pictured on right). Scott was thrilled for his build to be awarded 2nd best in show, commenting, “to receive an award like that against the many incredible builds on display was very humbling”.
Emma also played a crucial roll in the success of the event. Having successfully organised the Limestone Coast’s own LEGO® fan event EMPAK HOMES BrickGambier in 2017 and 2018, Brixpo organisers asked Emma to assist in planning and organising their inaugural event. Exhibitors and the public were full of praise for the event, which was a testament to the work put in by Emma and the other organisers.
Misfit Lodge, 2nd Best in Show
QUEENSCLIFFE BRICKS 2019
In June 2019, LCLUG member Emma travelled to Queenscliffe, Victoria to exhibit at the Rotary Club of Queenscliffe’s annual LEGO® Fan Event. In conjunction with Melbourne LEGO® User Group (MUGs), the event has been running since 2011 and attracts exhibitors from around Australia. Over 2500 people came to see over 30 displays both static and interactive at the Point Lonsdale Primary School Community Market.
Emma brought along her interactive games and puzzles for visitors. According to Emma, “asking children (and adults) to walk around a room full of LEGO® without touching is very hard, however necessary due to hours most displays have taken to construct. The games allow visitors the opportunity to play.”
The event is run by Rotarian volunteers liaising with exhibitors to raise funds for local and international projects supported by Rotary. The weekend went very smoothly and Emma is planning to return in 2020.
BRICKVENTION 2019
LEGO® lovers from around Australia converged on Melbourne in January to exhibit their works at Australia’a premiere LEGO® fan event, Brickvention. Three hundred of the best LEGO® builders in Australia assembled to show 20,000 spectators what could be created with those familiar plastic bricks and a touch of creativity. Amongst those exhibiting at Brickvention 2019 were members of the Limestone Coast LEGO® User Group.
Whilst it was Mount Gambier residents Scott and Duke’s third year attending the convention, it was their first exhibiting. Scott’s exhibit named ‘Wall Hung’ involves LEGO® Modular series buildings remodelled into IKEA Display Boxes and hung on a wall. Scott remarked, “I had LEGO® sets that I was never going to build because I didn’t have anywhere to display them, but building into these display boxes allows me to hang them on a wall”. The Wall Hung exhibit was awarded the Judge’s Choice trophy, one of only twelve awards presented to exhibitors.
This year also marked another local enthusiast’s third year exhibiting at Brickvention. Emma is well known for her sprawling urban layouts, including city buildings, busy streets, trains, a farm and even motorised wind turbine. This year Emma, along with the assistance of another local enthusiast Alison, created one of the biggest exhibits at the Brickvention event. Talking of her love for LEGO®, Emma commented, “I love sharing my love of the brick with people both young and old. To see a child walk up to your display with their mouth wide open in amazement makes all of the work creating the display worthwhile”.
