Our People
18 August, 2025
Taking beanies to the next level
SEVERAL intricate and fun award-winning works of art by creative local Cherrelle Nicholson are currently on display at Gallery 85 on the corner of Wimmera and Main Street, Stawell.
To be precise, they’re beanies, the things that keep your head warm, but unlike the kind of thing your grandmother knitted for you when you were a kid, these are exquisite artworks that show off Cherrelle’s impressive abilities working with felt.
Included in the display is a remarkable beanie depicting iconic Australian racehorse Phar Lap, which took out the Famous Moment in Sporting History prize at the 29th Alice Springs Beanie Festival in June, with this year’s beanie-making competition running with a sporting headgear theme.
The Alice Springs Beanie Festival is a big deal, attracting up to 7000 visitors from around the world and this year’s event had over 6000 beanies on display.
Having participated in the festival several times and won a handful of awards, this year’s sporting theme had Cherrelle scratching her head, pondering what to create.
“I didn’t have a clue what to do because I’m not sporty,” Cherrelle said.
“But my father passed away, he was 101 and-a-half, in February, and my horse passed away at the age of 33, so horses kept coming into my head.
“So I decided to hand felt, needle felt Phar Lap, and it won.”
Cherrelle said next year’s 30 th edition of the Alice Springs Beanie Festival is slated to be the last one.
“If you haven’t been to Alice Springs, go for the Beanie festival next year, because it’s a great experience,” she said.
Read More: Stawell