Kids creating environment

Artwork taken from the drawings of students at Towradgi Public School has been developed for use on special ‘tree guards’ to be installed at Towradgi Park.

The stainless steel and wood guards will feature designs taken from the children’s drawings adapted by Calderwood artist Tori de Mester.

The designs feature depictions of native animals and outdoor activities, as well as scenery from throughout the local area.

The guards will protect 12 juvenile Norfolk Island Pines to be planted as part of Council’s Towradgi Park Master Plan.

The plan aims to beautify, conserve and improve the Towradgi area and its surrounds.

Ms de Mester said the designs the children gave her were better than anything she could have dreamed up herself, and congratulated Council on its initiative to get children to take part in designing parts of the city.

“I think they are delightful because they are the sort of drawings I could never imagine myself,” she said.

“I think it’s a nice idea to start with the children and give them a sense of belonging and input.”

When finished the tree guards will resemble those currently installed along Wollongong City Beach.

Ms de Mester said early primary aged children like the ones involved in this project have are much more free thinking than older people.

“I think their perception has a lot to do with imagination and I think that there is a certain style when their imagination is free – before they think ‘this is how it should look,’” she said.

Towradgi Public students Ivy Prosser, Oscar Wong and Chloe Overall drew everything from jellyfish to monkey bars in their drawings, but each made sure they included a drawing of themselves in the picture.

The students said it would be good if children were asked to help design parts of the city more often and felt their imagination and drawing skills would be of good use to planners.

The initiative is part of Wollongong City Council’s Child Friendly City Project.