The Governor of New South Wales Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC officially opened the Enlighten for Equity Sculptures at the Wagga Beach Riverside Precinct today (7 June 2022).
The Enlighten for Equity – Youth Led Participatory Industrial Design and Lighting Project was part of Wagga Wagga City Council's delivery of the Wagga Women's Health Centre partnership DVproject:2650 – a primary prevention initiative aiming to reduce domestic and family violence in the city of Wagga Wagga.
The five sculptures create an equity walk within the Wagga Beach Riverside Precinct, starting near the entrance to the main carpark and winding along the pathways to the new regionally significant playground and through the open spaces.
Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout said he was delighted to have joined Her Excellency Margaret Beazley in officially unveiling the Enlighten for Equity Sculptures.
"It is wonderful to see this important collaborative project come to fruition," Cr Tout said. "Enlighten for Equity brought together creativity and education by working with primary and high school students from across Wagga Wagga.
"We had almost 850 primary school students and more than 100 high school students involved in creating these beautiful and moving sculptures.
"When you are walking through the Wagga Beach Riverside Precinct, I encourage you to stop and take a few minutes to look at each sculpture and reflect on the themes and messages they convey about the connection between community and equity and respect, and positive and respectful relationships."
Council's Equity team and an 'artist in residence' engaged with students from 18 local primary schools, who developed posters reflecting what equity and respect means to them and the Wagga Wagga community.
The primary school concepts were then given to design and technology students and teachers from five high schools, who were tasked to transform the ideas into 3D mock-ups. One design was chosen from each high school; Kildare Catholic College, Shepherd's Park School, Mount Austin High School, Wagga Wagga High School, and Mater Dei Catholic College.
Council managed the production and installation of the standalone lighted sculptures.
Director Community Janice Summerhayes said Enlighten for Equity was an important project for young people in our community.
"Through the DV:2650 project, young people have indicated to us how strongly they feel about addressing issues of domestic and family violence," Ms Summerhayes said.
"These sculptures reflect their ideas on what positive relationships look like, how we respect each other at home, in the community and at place.
"I really am pleased to see that these young people's ideas have now come to life for everybody to enjoy and reflect on at Riverside for years to come."
The Enlighten for Equity project was funded by NSW Government (Stronger Country Communities Round 3) in partnership with the overall DVproject:2650.
