A ‘We Will Meet Again’ Christmas message to the UK has been carved in sand on an Australian beach at a time when Covid restrictions prevent travel between the two countries.
Enigmatic sand artist known only as Edward created the 70×40 metre-long artwork on Raafs beach near Geelong, Victoria in collaboration with Tourism Australia.
The message, “We Will Meet Again” is a reference to the words spoken by the Queen in her national address as the UK entered its first Covid-19 lockdown.
There were 118,500 visitors to Australia from the UK last December, attracted by the southern hemisphere summer, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison praised the piece as an example of finding new ways to reconnect while travel has been on hold this year.
She said: “Edward’s artwork beautifully captures what all Australians are feeling right now – that so many of us miss our families and friends in the UK and all around the world.
“But like the message in the sand, our separation is only temporary, and we are very much looking forward to the moment when we can welcome our extended family and friends in the UK to Australia once again in the future.”