NOT too many schools can boast having a piece of sculpture from the popular Sculpture By The Sea exhibition in its grounds.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But Nowra East Public School can.
Passage Of Time is a stunning work by local Tomerong artists Akira Kamada, which featured in last year’s exhibit at Bondi.
Garden co-ordinator John Stovin-Bradford said the sculpture was a superb inclusion to the school’s Community Garden.
“Akira did work with the school and we have been talking with him about donating a sculpture to us for about a year,” he said.
“It is a wonderful addition to our garden and popular with the children.”
The stunning sculpture has a bamboo frame and is made of a number of different interwoven vines and wires.
“It took more than 100 hours to build,” Mr Stovin-Bradford said.
“There wouldn’t be too many schools who could boast a Bondi sculpture in their grounds.”
He said the sculpture, which is suspended from a tree, is expected to last between five and 10 years and grass would eventually grow up through the structure.
The NEPS’ Community Garden has been operating for two years and has proven popular with students.
“We have a number students from years 3 to 6 who are garden ambassadors and they regularly work in the permaculture garden,” Mr Stovin-Bradford said.
“Aaron Sorrenson, from Elemental Permaculture has helped us establish the garden and comes back to guide us.
“We have a no dig garden, a citrus area, as well as Australian, South American and Southeast Asian forest sections.
“We are looking to expand the garden and get the community more involved.”
The school is also trying to incorporate a kitchen area.
“The students love coming out and working in the garden and are learning about the environment, gardening and healthy food,” he said.
“Many of them have started gardens of their own at home.”
The community Garden was started with the assistance of the National Heart Foundation of Australia (NSW) and has also gained backing from Community Clubs (Shoalhaven RSL), South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation, Healthy Cities Illawarra and Healthy People Illawarra and more recently the Illawarra Mutual Building Society which has helped established an outdoor learning seated circle.
In another coup for the school, ABC Gardening Australia presenter Costa Georgiadis will be visiting in November to officially open the new seated area.
