From Gerringong Public School:

For the second time, Gerringong Public School has an entry in the Sculptures at Killalea festival, alongside another eleven primary and high schools from across
the Illawarra.

This year, our entry, Welcome D’hungang Nura, was developed by Mrs Mundey’s 5/6M class, working together with local artist educator Penny Sadubin
to create a new welcome feature for the Bush Tucker Garden.

‘Dhungang nura’ in Dharawal language means ‘bush tucker’ (dhungang) ‘country or place’ (nura).

Three hardwood posts were generously donated by Waxwood Timber at Albion Park. The students have each created a number of ceramic tiles beautifully depicting plants and animals from our school environment as well as spelling out “Welcome, Dhungang Nura”.

After the sculpture festival, the welcome posts and rocks will come back to school and be installed upright along with new planting to create a great new welcome garden near an
the entry point into school.

The poles have been made as part of our Eco-schools grant project that is all about exploring how to share the knowledge we can gain from learning about plants and animals, the environment and how to care for our eco-system and Dharawal culture via our Bush Tucker garden as a place of learning.

This money was granted to the school last year after a successful application to NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.

The teachers have done outdoor learning training, and soon to come are some trail markers that will enable a number of educational trails to be set up through the Bush Tucker garden and accessed both conventionally and using iPads and QR codes, sharing our learning. All of this will be implemented with input from our students drawing, designing and researching.

If you have time please do visit Sculptures at Killalea, an impressive sculpture festival on our doorstep.

Entry is free and it’s very appealing to kids with lots of great sculptures to enjoy.

While you are there, don’t forget to vote for your favourite school entry (go Gerringong!!). The most popular school sculpture will win $2000.

Details: 14-23 September, Killalea State Park and also at the Stocklands Shellharbour and the Civic Centre