Rainbow day for historic project

LOCAL primary school students have collaborated with community artist Jenny Saulwick for an historic project.
The project will be launched on PAVE Festival (Performing and Visual Arts in Emerald), Indigenous Culture Day on Tuesday 14 April.
Ms Saulwick has designed a 15m long rainbow serpent made from impressed clay tiles, which have been imprinted by local primary school students with animal footprints including a duck, a swamphen, a frog, a wombat and other birds – all found at Emerald Lake Park.
Cardinia Shire Council’s Cultural Development Officer Rebecca Christensen Page said Grade 5 and 6 students from Menzies Creek, Cockatoo, Macclesfield primary schools and Cockatoo Montessori School have participated in the project.
Students will participate in the launch exhibiting paintings inspired by the Rainbow Serpent Dreamtime story and performing an indigenous dance.
“With events and activities taking place across Emerald Lake Park, the Indigenous Culture Family Day promises to be fun and educational,” Ms Christensen Page said.
Activities on offer include a basket weaving, dance, storytelling, music, painting and jewellery making, art exhibitions, indigenous art stalls and a bush tucker barbecue.
The day will begin with an official welcome to the land by the Wurrundjeri tribe and will also feature an opportunity for the children participating in the Rainbow Serpent project to assemble their individual tiles together to create the serpent, which will become a permanent fixture at the beautiful Emerald Lake Park.
“This is a great school holiday activity with something for everyone in the relaxed and tranquil setting of the Emerald Lake Park,” Ms Christensen Page said.
The PAVE Festival begins on Easter Monday 13 April and runs through until Sunday, 19 April.
For a full list of events visit www.pave.org.au Copies of the program or more information on any of these events is also available by contacting PAVE’s Non Blair on or 0419 345 750.