Public work built on creative collab

A RECENT partnership between Ballarat Grammar students and Creswick’s Friends of Park Lake has led to the completion of a new public art piece for the space.

For the past few months, 17 students from the school’s Farm Busters program have been helping to develop a labyrinth near the site’s Lions playground and picnic area.

Friends of Park Lake member Andrew Bell said the students’ assistance had been invaluable in getting the project off the ground, or rather, in the ground.

“Our volunteers are all in our 60s and 70s, so it was amazing to have these young kids with such strength helping us lift these rocks.”

The collaboration began when Ballarat Grammar teacher Melita Shillington visited the site last year to attend the town’s annual winter solstice bonfire.

There, she met a Friends of Park Lake member and offered the students’ services in carrying out maintenance duties around the spaces.

Initially moving rocks and weeding near the site’s old fernery, the students’ involvement quickly shifted towards assisting with the labyrinth project, which involved transporting locally-sourced quartz rocks and placing them in the required spot.

Work was completed on the project about a month ago.

“One of the kids got out of the school bus the other week and came running up and said it looks immaculate,” Mr Bell said.

“That was lovely to hear.

“The only thing to add is we’re going to put a Lions logo plaque on the stone in the centre but that doesn’t affect its function.”

Ms Shillington said for the students, the project proved a rewarding weekly endeavour.

“The students were really surprised and chuffed at what they have achieved and all said that if they had the opportunity, they would come again,” she said.

A longtime goal for Mr Bell, the project was also supported with funding from the local Lions club, and additional labour through Hepburn Shire.

He said he hopes the Farm Busters program will continue to support Park Lake with another project to restore and replant the small fountains and ponds located at the site’s fernery next year.