Forbes Public School Captain Ruth Whittey thanked Kathryn Currey from Evolution Mining for funding the shade cloth for the yarning circle at the Community Conservation Corner.
Forbes Public School has established a Community Conservation Corner (CCC) with an outdoor classroom to make better use of the school’s close proximity to the beauty of Lake Forbes.
The CCC has Wiradjuri murals, a shade structure in First Nation colours over a yarning circle, while aluminium bench tops, stools, microscopes and storage space will be added for free community workshops and school lessons. “The goal is to develop our students’ and community member’s knowledge, skills and values to sustain our planet,” said teacher Katie Stitt.
“We would like to encourage the community to feel welcome in this space.”
The murals were funded by Arts OutWest and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and painted by Wiradjuri artist Scott Sauce Towney, who also designed the animal totems in 2019: Safe (platypus), Respectful (magpie) and Responsible (Kangaroo).
The shade sail was funded by Cowal Evolution Mining, and the bench tops, microscopes and yarning circle cushions by a second FRRR grant.
This will allow for hands-on activities to take place in the CCC to support the eco-system, sustain biodiversity and foster lifelong sustainability practices. The school’s raised veggie beds will be moved to the CCC and thanks to a donation from Central West Lachlan Landcare they will be filled with soil and edible plants and bush tucker. Teachers will teach a Kindergarten – Year 6 sustainability program linked to the NSW Curriculum.
The school already has strong connections with a variety of community organisations and groups including Central West Local Land Services, Central West Lachlan Landcare, Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre, Boys to the Bush, Wiradjuri Cultural and Environmental Rangers Group, Wiradjuri LandCare Group and others.
The yarning circle will be used by different classes every Tuesday and Thursday morning when Elders and storytellers will enter via the lake gate and tell a story during roll call.
Wiradjuri artist Scott Sauce Towney designed and painted animal totems for Forbes Public School. Here is with the Kangaroo, totem animal for the school value Responsible. He painted the totem animals on a water tank at the Community Conservation Corner.