These two quilts, titled 'The Lizzie Quilt' and 'Dreams Fulfilled', were made in 1999 for Quilts 2000, a community project that raised funds for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. The project involved 638 hand and machine-made quilts, and raised over $500,000 at auction. Endorsed by the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee (SPOC), this was one of two official community projects for the Paralympic Games (the other was a celebrity art auction).

Victorian quiltmaker, Eileen Campbell, was commissioned to make 'The Lizzie Quilt' as the signature piece for Quilts 2000. It was unveiled at Customs House on 10 February 1999 as part of the Quilts 2000 launch. Campbell's design (100 cm x 150 cm), which is machine appliquÂ?d, machine embroidered and machine quilted, illustrates the frill-neck lizard and Paralympic mascot, Lizzie, running through the bush to the Games. Around the border, decorative braid is combined with images of wattle blossom and the words, 'Quilts 2000 for the Sydney Paralympic Games'. Each segment of blossom has been made separately by stitching across holes in the fabric - the stitches radiate outwards like spokes in a wheel.

Entirely different in design, 'Dreams Fulfilled' illustrates an athlete's hand thrust into the air, grasping a bouquet and a victory medal. This is the work of New South Wales quiltmaker, Lorraine Banck, and its design (95 x 109 cm) is hand appliquÂ?d and quilted. Both the Campbell and Bank quilts were purchased by SPOC for AUD$16500 and AUD$950 consecutively.

Inaugurated in 1998 by ten Sydney quiltmakers, Quilts 2000 was designed to raise funds for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and to give the sports event a cultural dimension. Most quilts were submitted by January 2000, initiating a series of exhibitions promoting the quilt project and the Games. Parliament House, the Australian Institute of Sport and country halls were just some venues that hosted these events; the associated transportation having a direct influence upon the quilts' size and design.

To assist transportation, the quilts were to be between 90 and 150 centimetres square, free from loose or delicate embellishments and pliable. In general, most quilts reflected the project's three key themes - the spirit of Australia, the Paralympic Games, and Paralympic qualities starting with the letter 'P', such as power, performance, pride, perfection, purpose and perseverance.

The financial success of this project was matched by the community achievement in uniting quiltmakers, Paralympic athletes, local councils and many major companies at more than 100 engagements. The quilt auction was launched at SPOC headquarters by Mayor of the Paralympic Village and retiring Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fisher, and was continued over the internet until the end of the Games. Any unsold quilts were donated to public libraries.

'The Lizzie Quilt' was designed and made by Eileen Campbell from Kew, Victoria in 1999. It illustrates the frill-neck lizard and Paralympic mascot, Lizzie, running through the bush to the Games. Around the border, decorative braid is combined with images of wattle blossom and the words, 'Quilts 2000 for the Sydney Paralympic Games'.

Dreams Fulfilled' was designed and made by Lorraine Banck from Nowra, New South Wales in 1999. It illustrates an athlete's hand thrust into the air, grasping a bouquet and a victory medal.

Victorian quiltmaker, Eileen Campbell, was commissioned to make 'The Lizzie Quilt' as the signature piece for Quilts 2000. The design has been machine appliquÂ?d, machine embroidered and machine quilted, and each segment of its wattle blossom design has been made separately by stitching across holes in the fabric.

'Dreams Fulfilled' was hand appliquÂ?d and hand quilted in 1999 by Lorraine Banck from Nowra, New South Wales.

The manufacture of the quilts and the project itself are described in the book, Quilts 2000: Australia Celebrates, Fail, K. & Finnegan, D., Quilts 2000, Frenchs Forest, 2000. The website, http://pandora.nla.gov.au, illustrates each of the quilts and describes the project briefly.

The quilts were entered into Quilts 2000, a community project and quilt auction that raised money for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. 'The Lizzie Quilt' was exhibited as the signature piece of the event.

Eileen Campbell and Lorraine Banck donated the quilts to Quilts 2000 in late 1999. The quilts were purchased by the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee in 2000 and were donated to the Powerhouse Museum after the Games.

Quilts (2), 'The Lizzie Quilt', 'Dreams Fulfilled', cotton, designed and made by Eileen Campbell and Lorraine Banck, Kew and Nowra 1999, made for auction in Quilts 2000, Paralympic Games, Sydney, 2000, purchased by the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee, 2000

Quilts (2) with documentation. Quilt titled 'Lizzie', the quilt features 5 images of the Paralympic mascot 'Lizzie' the Frilled Neck Lizard in an outback scene. The scene has been machine appliquÂ?d and machine quilted onto the surface of the quilt. The other quilt is titled 'Dreams Fulfilled' it is hand appliquÂ?d and hand quilted. The quilt features a scene of a hand holding a medal in the shape of Australia and a bunch of native flowers. Each of the quilts has an open hem for hanging. Documentation for the quilts is contained in a folder with plastic sleeves.

Made: 2000

2001/84/576

2000