By REBECCA BILLS
STUDENTS from Upper Yarra Community House (UYCH) Redwood and Cerini Centres have come together to create a truly unique mural.
A total of 30 students under the direction of Yarra Ranges Recovery Community Support Worker Brad Colling and the support of Yarra Ranges Council Youth Services through the Freeza program have designed and spray painted tags and Formula One inspired artwork at the new Karting Madness centre in Chirnside Park.
Mr Colling said a project like this was perfect for the students who usually struggled in normal classroom environments.
“It gives them a space to actually use their talents and their art to create something they really can be proud of,” he said.
“There are a lot of creative young people and this is an opportunity for them to be appreciated – this is a way to give them a sense of pride and credibility.
“We’ve also only had a month from the time we started planning to get to this stage, so it’s very much been under the pump but it’s come together very well.”
Karting Madness owners Kim and Troy Wade said as locals themselves it was really important to have the wall art created by locals.
“We really love street art and we saw this as a great way to get the kids involved at the centre,” Mrs Wade said.
“We are so impressed, their families should be really proud of them and they should be really proud of themselves.”
Yarra Ranges Council Youth Services Graffiti Officer Julie Hanman said it was great for young people to find a space where they could paint and contribute the community at the same time.
“This project is part of our Graffiti Implementation Plan with one of our key areas is to engage young people in these sorts of projects and give them an outlet to encourage legal artwork,” she said.
“When you watch these young people doing this kind of artwork, the focus and concentrations is absolutely amazing.
“This is a great project that sees wins all round.”
