2023 Paint Australia Beautiful State Winners

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KINGSGROVE PUBLIC SCHOOL (GRADE 3-4): Each student was able to contribute to the initial design process as well as the final coloured mural. Students selected paint colours and used their fingerprints in unique ways to create an incredibly intricate design boasting a heart shaped tree in the middle, multicoloured fingerprints as leaves coming off the branches and fingerprints for the grass in line with the tree. Students used their imagination and problem solving skills to create amazing animals such as bees, birds and caterpillars out of their fingerprints. They then decided on an environmentally important message: “One earth, one choice” highlighting the importance of caring for and catering to the needs of all environments as a whole to maintain our earth and be able to live the lives we lead. This mural signifies our connection to each other, our land and our school community through the vivid colours, meaningful imagery and crucial message.

NT

KINTORE STREET SCHOOL (GRADE 6): We are a special needs school located in Katherine Northern Territory. Our core values include having fun, showing curiosity, responsibility, cooperation and persistence. Students are involved in recycling cans and learn sustainability through the garden to plate initiative offered by our Food Ladder greenhouse, vegetable garden and pizza oven. Many of our Indigenous students have totems that they have incorporated into the design with the Katherine Gorge, Hot Springs and Low Level being places where many of our students go fishing and swimming. Students are also involved in their local community through sports and other activities. The hands are a symbol of our multicultural town and closing the gap between cultures. The town is always known to get together to support each other through the good and difficult times.

GARBUTT STATE SCHOOL (PREP-6): The words in the design mean welcome in various indigenous languages from the surrounding areas of our school. As a small school it was important that we included a welcome message into the design as we further develop a strong relationship with the surrounding community of the school. The design represents the unique indigenous cultures at our school and the people represent the students working with community to create a sustainable future. The plant is the focus of the design as the students have just been learning about and assisting with the school sustainability program where they are creating compost from scraps of lunch for our bush tucker garden.

TAS

PENGUIN DISTRICT SCHOOL (GRADE 1-2): The children have been investigating the element of line in their weekly art class. Part of our investigation was looking at line in nature. We looked at various art works including a local indigenous artist for inspiration. We discussed the importance of our connection to where we live and the children expressed how lucky we are here in Penguin School to have the ocean, beach, bushland and iconic Dial Range Mountains surrounding us. We have just moved into a new school with a spectacular view looking over the ocean from on top of a hill. We discussed how important it is to care and nurture our special place. Using line as a focus they used chalk pastels to represent these elements of our environment. In contrast to our beautiful surroundings the play pod container currently looks out of place and we hope to beautify it and enhance the playground.

CHRIST THE PRIEST PRIMARY (GRADE 3-6): The design is a collective drawing done by students from Year 3-6 who participate in Art Club every week. Over the weeks we discussed birds and flora that live in our area and students drew lots of designs. Finally it was decided to add a Wedge-Tailed eagle to honour Bunjil, the creator of the Wurundjeri people on which land our school stands, a lorikeet, a yellow-crusted cockatoo and corellas which we have in abundance in Caroline Springs. The butterflies are an endangered species called Eltham Copper butterflies. In the top left and right hand corner students drew a bottle brush and a gum nut tree flower which adorns our street. The sun, rainbow water and trees are all very significant to our community. As Catholics, we believe God created beauty around us not just to admire but to look after and this is in line with the Wurundjeri people.

WA

EAST NARROGIN PRIMARY (GRADE 6): This is a representation of our school and surrounding areas, with native flora and fauna. Our school logo is of the sun coming up over our town that is between two hills. East Narrogin Primary school is well represented by our Noongar community and we value providing all our students with connection to land. This project is a continuation of our Noongar garden and creating a space for students and the wider community to embrace their pride and culture. Our school is rebranding and focussing on growth. Improving our physical environment will help in promoting our school and creating a stronger sense of belonging for our school community. Allowing our students to be involved in a project from the beginning and following it through the full process provides pride and empowerment.