Students from Wadalba Community School will partner with farmers to create the 2018 Royal Easter Show District Exhibit for Central District.
The work, already completed at school, will be delivered to the Easter Show where students will then work to add the produce grown by Central District farmers. The theme for this year’s display is The Suburban Farmer. “The students’ largescale, interdisciplinary work, partnering across faculties inside the school, and with farmers in the district, represents many great attributes about learning in the 21st century,” said Wadalba Community School Principal, Mr Jason McGrath. Team coordinator and Visual Arts Teacher, Ms Melissa Morris, said it was Wadalba’s third year participating in the District Exhibition Schools’ Division.
“It is great to see a group of students so passionate about their creative learning,” Ms Norris said. “Each year new skills are being developed and enhanced. “This year it has been a pleasure to watch the older students mentor the younger ones, and pass on advice and skill they learnt at the show last year,” she said. Participating students are proud of their part in the exhibition that each year ranks as one of the Royal Easter Show’s top attractions. “I am really looking forward to seeing the end result, and I really appreciate Ms Norris’s efforts and giving us this opportunity,” said Year 10 student, Ms Georgia Watts. “This is a great opportunity to go and see behind the scenes and I can’t wait to see the end result,” said a fellow Year 10 student, Ms Rebecca Panjer.
“I loved doing this, it was a great way to channel our creativity,” said Ms Charlotte Coleman of Year 10. “The countless hours of painting and seeding will pay off as we see the amazing end result,” Ms Coleman said. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Ms Katelyn Miller, another of the Year 10 students involved in the project. “I have worked with an amazing team and have learnt valuable lessons that I can use later in life.” “This was such a great opportunity and experience. “As a team, we have worked together to create this piece,” said Ms Hayley Peterson. “I can’t wait to see the end result, with all the produce and finishing touches.” Ms Laura Wood of Year 11 said it was her second year of participating in the schools’ District Exhibits at the Royal Easter Show.
“It was a great opportunity to be able to contribute and mentor a new group of students. “I look forward to our next week, building, constructing and placing all our produce,” Ms Wood said. The students’ design, the Suburban Farmer, explores the concept of bringing the farm into backyards. “In today’s society where budgets are tight and the environment is a concern, many suburban families have adopted small farming concepts into their backyards,” the students said in their submission to the Show. “We have based our design on what a typical backyard can look like around the suburbs in our Central District. “Our school Ag farm also gives many students and staff a look at how to grow your own vegetables and care for animals at home. “We invite the viewers to look over the colour bond fences of the average backyard to see that they are equipped with a compost heap, veggie patch and, of course, the chicken coop.”
Source: Media release, Mar 15 Grant Hatch, Education NSW